Postdocs who work in California and are on salary (paid twice a month through Stanford University) are enrolled in the Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) plan and Paid Family Leave (PFL) plan through AbsenceOne.
Who's Eligible?
A salary paid postdoctoral scholar who resides in California and has Voluntary Disability/EE withholdings from their Stanford paychecks.
How to Request a Disability Leave
Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) Benefits Information
Weekly Benefit
- 60% of a postdoc's weekly pre-disability base salary, if earning above $23,994 salary annually; subject to limitations
- 70% of a postdoc's weekly pre-disability base salary, if earning less than $23,994 salary annually, subject to limitations
- Maximum benefit is $1,540/week subject to change every January 1st
- Minimum benefit is $50/week
- Benefit is paid weekly and is not considered Federal or State taxable income
Waiting Period Before Benefits Become Payable
- 7 full or partial calendar days
- Benefits will start on the day of hospitalization or surgery, or on the 8th day of disability, whichever occurs first
Maximum Benefit Duration
- 52 weeks or until the physician's certification expires (if sooner)
Pre-existing Limitation
- Disability benefits will be limited to the State Plan rate. Please refer to the VDI Statement of Coverage for additional information
Salary Supplement
- Postdocs may use sick and Time off with Pay to supplement their disability benefit payment.
- Maternity Disability Leave Only: Postdocs are eligible to receive up to six weeks maternity leave with full pay. The postdoc is required to apply for short-term disability. The department will supplement the disability benefit to bring the postdoc to 100% full pay for six weeks of maternity disability.
Learn more about the Leave Policy including Time off with Pay, sick time, and maternity leave.
Paid Family Leave (PFL) Benefits Information
Paid Family Leave (PFL) provides a benefit to eligible salary paid postdocs who taken an approved leave of absence to care for:
- A seriously ill family member (child, parent, spouse, registered domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, parent-in-law)
- To bond with a new child (Limitation: Leave for birth or placement must be concluded within the first year after the birth of placement)
PFL does not create additional leave rights or guarantee job projection. It is a component of Stanford's Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) plan and State Disability Insurance (SDI).
Weekly Benefit Amount
- 60% of a postdoc's weekly pre-disability base salary, if earning above $23,994 salary annually; subject to limitations
- 70% of a postdoc's weekly pre-disability base salary, if earning less than $23,994 salary annually; subject to limitations
- Maximum of $1,540/week subject to change every January 1st
- Minimum benefit is $50/week
- Benefit is paid weekly and is taxable for Federal income tax only
Waiting Period Before Benefits Become Payable
- 0 days - PFL benefits does not have an elimination period
Maximum Benefit Duration
- Up to 8 weeks of PFL benefits in a rolling 12-month period effective 7/1/2020
Pre-existing Limitation
- PFL benefits will be limited to the state plan rate. Please refer to the VDI Statement of Coverage for additional information
Salary Supplement
- Postdocs may use Time off with Pay to supplement their PFL benefit payment
Learn more about the Leave Policy including time off with pay.
Family Medical Leave
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides you with up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected time during a 12-month period for a wide range of reasons, including your own medical condition. You do not need to take this leave all at once.
Eligibility
To be eligible for FMLA, you must meet two conditions:
1. You must have at least one year of service with Stanford and;
2. You must have worked at least 1,250 in salary hours at Stanford within the past 12 months.
Reasons for Using FMLA
Only certain conditions qualify for FMLA, some of the most common ones include:
- You have a serious health condition that prevents you from doing your job
- You are unable to work for reasons related to pregnancy
- You are a new parent (this includes fathers, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners) and you are taking a Parental Leave to bond with your newborn, newly adopted child or newly placed foster child
- You need to care for an immediate family member with a serious health condition.
Pay while on FMLA
Although these leaves are unpaid, you may be able to use disability benefits, Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits, sick time and/or Time off with Pay, at the same time to replace a portion of your lost income.
International Scholars in J1 status must note that unpaid leaves are reviewed in light of the J1 program regulations which require pursuance of the J program objectives while the scholar is in the U.S. If the leave request is determined to constitute a violation of the visa status, it may not be approved. International postdocs who request an unpaid leave should do so BEFORE the start of the leave's occurrence, and immediately upon learning of the need to take a leave. The university is required to report infractions in the scholar's SEVIS record. Documentation to support the request may be required in order to review any leave requests.
The calculation period is changed on January 1, 2015. See details of the FMLA Calculation Change.
Maternity Policies and Resources
Learn more about Maternity & Paternity Programs
