USERRA Leave
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) protects the rights and protections (PDF) of employees who, voluntarily or involuntarily, leave employment positions to undertake military service, eligible FEMA service or certain types of service in the National Disaster Medical System.
Review the Time Off and Leave Guide for details on USERRA leave including eligibility, reemployment guarantees and more.
- Coordination with Paid Time Off
USERRA leave is unpaid; however, employees may elect to use accrued vacation or sick time during USERRA Leave.
- Benefits Continuation
Employees may choose to either continue or cancel eligible benefits during unpaid leave. Benefits continuation (PDF) varies between the leaves of absence.
Employees can cancel benefits during unpaid leave in bswift, the university’s benefits enrollment system. Please note that cancelation of any of voluntary life or disability benefits (e.g., optional employee or spouse life, voluntary short-term disability, etc.). Evidence of Insurability (EOI) may be required to re-enroll in those benefits upon returning to work.
Premium Remittance
If continuing benefits during unpaid leave, employees will need to pay their benefits premiums through bswift, GW's benefits enrollment system. If applicable, bswift will provide instructions on how to log into the billing account in order to remit payment for benefits premiums due during unpaid leave.
Please note if benefits premiums are not paid, benefits may be canceled effective the end of the month following the last payment or deduction.
- Returning to Work
Employees should contact their manager and Benefits prior to returning to work from a leave of absence. Failure to provide timely notice of returning may negatively affect payroll and benefits processing as well as delay the restoration of university systems access.
Benefits Enrollment
Upon return to active employment, employees may re-enroll in any canceled benefits within 30 calendar days of returning to work via the benefits enrollment system. If no election is made, the next opportunity to enroll will be during open enrollment or within 30 calendar days of a Qualified Life Event.
Retirement Contributions
Within 90 days of returning to work from USERRA leave, employee will receive the base and matching contributions to the university's 401(a) plan that would have been made had the employee not been on USERRA leave.
Employees also have the right to make up any missed contributions to their 403(b) account and receive matching contributions on those make up contributions within a certain period after returning to work. For additional details, please contact GW Benefits.
Vacation Time and Salary
Employees who had an accrued vacation time balance prior to going on USERRA leave will retain those accrued hours.
In addition, any pay increases employees are entitled to will be processed by HRMD. Questions regarding pay increases can be directed to your HR representative.
- How to Apply
Contact Lincoln Financial at least 30 days prior to the start of your leave (when foreseeable) or as soon as possible.