What is the difference between FMLA and short-term disability?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides job protection and unpaid leave to eligible employees who need to take time off due to a serious health condition, to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or for certain military-related or family reasons. FMLA is unpaid, job-protected leave, and the employee may be required to use accrued paid leave during FMLA leave. Short-term disability insurance (STD) is an insurance policy that provides income replacement and other benefits to employees who become totally disabled and are unable to work. This disability may be physical, mental, or a combination of both. Most short-term disability policies cover up to 26 weeks of benefits. Short-term disability benefits are paid by the policyholder, usually through payroll deductions, or by the employer. The primary difference between FMLA and short-term disability is that FMLA does not provide financial benefits to the employee, whereas short-term disability provides income replacement benefits for a period of time. Additionally, FMLA requires employers to provide job protection to the employee, while short-term disability does not. In Utah, employers with 50 or more employees must comply with FMLA, while there is no such requirement for short-term disability.
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