New FMLA LOA and Job Accommodations Process Changes

New FMLA Leave of Absence and
Job Accommodations Process Changes, etc. 

These changes will affect all pre-merger AT&T non-management employees in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the US Virgin Island.

Effective December 18, 2006 pre-merger AT&T employees will use a new FMLA process.

• New process for requesting FMLA leave
• FMLA entitlement changing from a rolling year method to a calendar year method.
• New tools to monitor status of FMLA requests (see attachment #1 for full details for changes)

New Leave of Absence Policy goes in effect on January 1, 2007

• Applications for leaves beginning on or after the date must be submitted on the LOA website via HROneStop.
• Paper applications will no longer be accepted.
• Once applications are approved the employee’s department must submit a payroll transaction to place the employee on leave in elink. (see attachment #2 for full details)

Changes to the Job Accommodation Process go into effect December 18, 2006.

Effective Dec. 18 all employees who need to request work restrictions or accommodations that last more than 10 business days (and who are not currently absent from work and assigned a sickness disability or workers compensation case manager) should contact the AT&T Integrated Disability Service Center (IDSC) at 1-866-276-2278 and follow the prompts to speak to a customer intake specialist.  Tell that person that you are requesting a work restriction and/or accommodation.

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Changes made to Transitional Work Program(TWP) Process go into effect January 2, 2007

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Career Placement Group(CPG) Website Transition information on the Career Placement Group website can be accessed on the Non-Management Staffing Information Portal (NMSIP) HROneStop.

All of the listed changes for each process or policy can be found in the Benefits section of HROneStop which is the equivalent of pre-merged AT&T Workforce Services.

Again, these changes only affect pre-merger AT&T and does not affect pre-merger SBC employees.

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                                                                                                            Attachment #1

New FMLA Process

Effective Dec. 18, pre-merger AT&T employees will use a new FMLA process. New requests submitted on or after that date are routed to a processing unit in San Antonio, TX.  

These are highlights of how the FMLA process will change:

·        Employees will no longer have to complete and submit an FMLA1 form to request FMLA.  However, they will need to provide sufficient notice to supervisors or attendance managers. Forms must be submitted by your supervisor or attendance manager when you request FMLA protection. FMLA will continue to run concurrently with approved short-term disabilities and applicable Leaves of Absence. 

NOTE: Employees are required to notify supervisors of the need for FMLA leave at least 30 days before a foreseeable absence. When the absence is not foreseeable, the request must be submitted as soon as the employee learns of the need for leave, or at least within 2 business days of the employee's return to work.

·        Employees must obtain copies of a Certification of Health Care Provider Form (FMLA4) from their supervisor or attendance manager. The FMLA4 will be provided to the employee when the request for leave is submitted. FMLA4’s have printed bar-codes that are unique to the person requesting leave.  

·        Employees have access to the FMLA Status Site via HROneStop and can monitor status, review document history and obtain copies of previous status letters.

NOTE: The status site will display only a history of FMLA requests submitted after Dec. 17.  To obtain status on claims submitted before that date, contact AHCS at 877-743-0379 before Jan. 1, 2007, or ask your supervisor.

·        A detailed overview of an employee’s role in the FMLA process is available via HROneStop.

·        A chart explaining these changes to pre-merger AT&T employees is attached. 

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                                                                                                Attachment #2

New Leaves of Absence Policy

Here are highlights of the new Leave of Absence (LOA) process that goes into effect on Jan. 1:

• Applications for leaves beginning on or after Jan 1, 2007 can be submitted on or after that date on the LOA Website via HROneStop. You will not be able to submit requests before that date.

• Paper applications will no longer be accepted. 

• Pre-merger AT&T non-management employees, including non-represented employees, continue to be eligible to participate in the same leaves currently offered under the pre-merger AT&T Leave of Absence Process.

Note: Employees of AT&T Support Services Company, Inc. and GCI, Inc. do not participate in the AT&T LOA Process. Employees of AT&T Technical Services Company, Inc. participate in the LOA process for Military Leaves only.

• Non-management EEs of Alascom should continue to use current processes and not submit leaves through the LOA Website. 

• Approved leave of absence requests require further action by the department to ensure the employee’s payroll record in eLink reflects the fact that the employee is on leave. In most cases, the department must submit an ePCR transaction. However, some leaves require only time coding to be entered in eLink. Please refer to the LOA Application and Approval Process Guide or eLink Online Documentation for further instruction.

The Leaves of Absence page in the Benefits section of HROneStop has information on the process for submitting and approving leaves — including documentation on the pre-merger AT&T Leave of Absence Administrative Processes and the LOA Application and Approval Process Guide. It also has a list of required supporting documentation, the payroll process for approved leaves and the appeal process.

Questions about Leaves of Absence should be directed to the HROneStop IVR at 877-722-1STP (888-722-1787); once connected, say “Leave of Absence.”  Or e-mail questions to HRONESTOP-LOA.

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                                                                                                      Attachment #5

Career Placement Group (CPG) Website Transition Website Transition information on the Career Placement Group website can be accessed on the Non-Management Staffing Information Portal (NMSIP) HROne Stop.

Items moved to the NMSIP include Job Briefs, ATS/ARS Information Package, ATS/ARS Job Aid Advertised Positions and Force Management Program.

All of the listed changes for each process or policy can be found in the Benefits section of HROneStop which is the equivalent of pre-merged AT&T workforce Services.

Again, these changes only affect pre-merger AT&T and do not affect pre-merger SBC employees.