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I’ll Be Back! Handling Benefits during Employee Leaves of Absence

September 24, 2024 (4 min read)

There are many reasons employees may take leave (bereavement, sickness, vacation, sabbatical, disability, military leave). Some leaves provide employees with protections, such as leaves under the Family Medical Leave Act, USERRA, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, or state law. Employers must account properly for the accrual of an employee's benefits and service during a leave of absence and still provide opportunities for the inactive employee to make benefit elections, often contributions (sometimes, make-up contributions), or otherwise participate in the plan. Don’t forget these and other employees (like COBRA participants), during your open enrollment.

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