U.S. Military Leave Policy – Zendesk

Policy

Eligible professionals who leave their employment to serve in the United States armed forces will be placed on U.S. Military Leave. This includes those who voluntarily or involuntarily go on active duty, reservists who enter service for the initial three- to six-month period of training, and those who require leave to fulfill their annual National Guard or U.S. military reserve obligations.

Eligibility

Regular U.S. professionals are eligible for military leave.

Provisions

How Long is a U.S. Military Leave of Absence?

Short-term U.S. Military Leave is thirty days or less.

Long-term U.S. Military Leave is greater than thirty days.

Health & Welfare Benefits Continuation During Short-term U.S. Military Leave

Benefit coverage is unaffected by short-term U.S. military leave of thirty days or less.

Short-term U.S. military leave is an unpaid leave of absence. The professional’s portion of contributions for health and welfare benefits will continue to be deducted from paychecks during any period of time that the professional is receiving compensation.

During any period of time that the leave is uncompensated, the professional will be responsible for sending in payment for their portion of the benefit contributions.

If at any time the professional owes for benefit contributions, the U.S. HR Support Center will notify the professional in writing, advising what premiums are owed and how to submit payment.

Health & Welfare Benefits Continuation During Long-term U.S. Military Leave

The status of benefits for professionals on long-term U.S. military leave is as follows:

Vacation is not accrued for the period of an uncompensated long-term U.S. military leave of absence. Professionals will continue to receive vacation credit as if they were not on a leave of absence.
Professionals must elect to use their accrued vacation for which they are eligible during any period of unpaid leave, unless otherwise prohibited by state or local regulations. Paid vacation will run concurrently with military leave.
While on U.S. military leave, professionals are not eligible for paid holidays, sick leave, or paid short-term disability leave.
Group health insurance may be continued for a period of 24 months with the professional paying the entire premium amount.
Group life insurance, supplemental life insurance and long-term disability insurance will be continued for up to 26 weeks following the date the military leave of absence begins. The premiums are paid by the employer.
Provided the professional was participating in the Black & Veatch Retirement Program at the time of the leave, contributions to the Program will continue to be deducted from any paychecks during the leave. Upon returning from U.S. military leave, the professional may make up any missed contributions to the Program. Professionals who wish to make up contributions to their Black & Veatch Retirement Program must contact the U.S. HR Support Center.

Will Professionals Be Required to Meet Any Waiting Periods for Benefits Upon Return from U.S. Military Leave?

Professionals reemployed timely following U.S. military leave will not have to meet a new waiting period for benefits.

Will Professionals Receive Compensation During U.S. Military Leave?

Professionals who are involuntarily called to active U.S. long-term military duty will receive differential pay from BVH, Inc. (the company). Differential pay equates to their regular company base pay, less the amount of their military base pay, for the first six months of their leave. Regular taxes and Retirement Program contributions will be withheld.

The six months of differential pay will not be interrupted due to temporary leaves from military service without being released from active military duty, such as rest leaves or emergency family leaves.

If a professional has been called up, then released from active military duty, returns to work, and is called up a second time, he or she may receive another six months of U.S. military leave differential pay.

Professionals must provide their military years of service and current military rank information at the time of a request for leave of absence. Professionals are responsible for notifying the U.S. HR Support Center and their Human Resource Partner if they experience a promotion in military rank during their military leave to ensure their differential pay is updated.

Will the Professional Still be Eligible for a Merit Increase While on U.S. Military Leave?

Professionals who are on an approved military leave will receive the merit increase according to the normal merit cycle.

Professionals who are on a long-term military leave during the merit cycle will have their 6-month military leave differential adjusted based on the effective date of the merit increase.

Who Will Complete the Professional’s Timesheets While on U.S. Military Leave?

The U.S. HR Support Center will notify the following persons, via email, of the professional’s U.S. military leave of absence:

Department Administrative Assistant
Supervisor
Human Resources Partner

The professional should coordinate with one of the above indicated persons to complete their timesheets during any period of absence.

Return to Work from U.S. Military Leave

Return from U.S. military leave is in accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment & Re-employment Act (USERRA).

Prior to returning to work from U.S. military leave, the professional must contact their Supervisor and Human Resources Partner.

Military Leave Request Process

Professionals should request a U.S. military leave by completing the Request for Leave of Absence Form. Completed forms should be sent with a copy of their U.S. military orders to the U.S. HR Support Center for processing.

If foreseeable, professionals should provide the company at least 30 days advance notice of their need for a U.S. military leave of absence.

If unforeseeable, professionals should notify the company as soon as practicable of their need for a U.S. military leave of absence.