Your rights and responsibilities

When you are on a medical leave of absence and have exhausted paid leave accruals, there are other benefits available which may allow you to receive some income. 

Once you have exhausted your FMLA and KCFML benefits, if you still need an unpaid leave of absence for medical reasons, you must submit a written request in advance of the end of your job-protected leave. You may be required to work with King County Disability Services for medical verification issues. If your unpaid leave is 30 days or less in length, DAJD Management can consider approving the leave. King County Disability Services must approve any medical leave over 30 days. An approved leave would only give you an approved absence for the time frame but would NOT extend your FMLA/KCFML rights or medical benefits. Once the form is completed, please submit it to DAJD Human Resources Leave Management.

If you take a day off work and do not have sufficient leave balance, you will be in a "no pay" status. The Adult Division of DAJD has a "no pay" policy whereby employees are disciplined for taking a leave without sufficient balance. Please refer to your last pay check stub for an accurate balance of your accrued leave before taking a day off on sick, vacation, compensation or holiday leave.

When you are on an extended leave of absence for medical reasons — whether it’s FMLA, KCFML or a Leave of Absence Without Pay — it is important that you remain available to communicate with the department about your status. It is your responsibility to ensure that Human Resources knows how to contact you during any absence and you call your supervisor to get off the schedule.

During FMLA/KCFML, if you are in a "no pay" status, you will continue to receive medical, dental and vision benefits as well as Life/AD&D/LTD insurance.

Other benefits: Some benefits will expire when you are no longer protected under KCFML. These are Life, Long-Term Disability or Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance coverage. Upon the exhaustion of your KCFML protected leave hours, DAJD Human Resources Leave Management will determine if you are eligible for benefit coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If you’re eligible for the ACA, your basic benefit coverage will continue through December 31 of the calendar year. Any enhanced benefits that you have been receiving will not automatically be continued and will need to be paid for out of pocket. Contact Benefits and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556 if you wish to continue enhanced benefits during an unpaid medical leave.

If you do not yet qualify for FMLA/KCFML leave and you or an immediate family member has a serious health condition, you can request a leave without pay. Approval or denial of your Leave Without Pay request is at Department Management's discretion. Contact DAJD Human Resources at 206-477-2400 for more information. This form should be submitted directly to DAJD Human Resources for processing. The Leave of Absence Without Pay request form can be found on King County’s Taking Leave webpage.