How does the County’s Shared Leave policy affect the short-term disability plan?
The short-term disability insurance does not negate or take the place of the County’s Shared Leave policy. The shared leave policy requires an employee to suffer a catastrophic personal illness. The phrase catastrophic personal illness is defined very narrowly. Contrast that definition with the definition of disability under the short-term disability insurance plan. You’re eligible for STD benefits if you are unable to perform, with reasonable continuity, the material duties of your own occupation. This definition is much broader than the catastrophic personal illness definition to qualify for shared leave. Therefore, it is quite possible to qualify for the short-term disability plan if you become disabled but would not qualify for the shared leave policy.
