Centerspace recognizes that team members may need to care for an eligible family member with a serious health condition.
Eligibility
Full-time regular team members who have at least one year of employment with Centerspace are eligible for Paid Caregiver Leave. Part-time, temporary team members, and interns are not eligible.
Definition of a Serious Health Condition:
A “serious health condition” means an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition that either lasts for more than three consecutive days and requires continuing treatment from a health care provider or requires inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential mental health care facility.
Definition of an Eligible Family Member
Child – biological child, adopted child, foster child, stepchild, partner’s child, a child for whom the team member is a legally appointed guardian. No age limit.
Spouse – husband or wife as defined in the state where team member lives, including common-law marriage.
Domestic Partner – an individual aged 18 or older, currently lives with the team member and has lived with the team member for at least 6 months, is financially interdependent with the team member, is not blood relative with the team member, and is not legally married to another person.
Parent – biological, step, adoptive, or foster parent or an individual who served in loco parentis (responsible for your care in place of a parent).
Sibling – biological, step, adoptive, or foster brother or sister.
Grandparent – biological, step, adoptive, or foster grandparent.
Program Details
Two weeks of paid caregiver leave is available each calendar year to eligible team members and can be taken as continuous or intermittent leave. Approved Caregiver Leave may be taken at any time during the twelve-month period immediately following the need to care for an immediate family member. Caregiver Leave may not be used or extended beyond this twelve-month time frame.
Caregiver Leave is compensated at 100 percent of the team member’s regular pay and will be paid on regularly scheduled pay dates.
Caregiver Leave will work in conjunction with FMLA leave and is in addition to PTO or other available paid leave. Paid Caregiver Leave is processed upon the receipt of a Medical Certification. A family member’s health care provider will need to complete a medical certification, outlining the health condition and how long the care and support will need to be provided.
When possible, team members are required to request this leave a minimum of 30 days in advance. If unable to do so, team members are asked to request leave as soon as they become aware of the situation.
Team members will not be paid for any unused Caregiver Leave upon termination of employment from Centerspace.
Examples of a qualifying serious health condition include, but are not limited to: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic back conditions, diabetes, pregnancy complications, depression.
Examples of ineligible scenarios: To stay home with a child whose school or daycare is closed due to a scheduled break, weather emergency, or illness. To care for an eligible family member whose health care provider fails to complete a medical certification outlining the family member’s health condition and care needs. To care for a new or ill pet.
The following statements apply:
The team member’s position and the benefits will not be affected during Caregiver Leave. The company is allowed during that time to fill the position with a temporary replacement or reassign the team member to an equivalent position as allowed per FMLA guidelines.
A team member that has not requested an extension or given other notice must return to their position after the end of their leave. Not doing so is considered a voluntary resignation.
After the Paid Caregiver Leave is exhausted, the balance of FMLA leave can be compensated through team member’s accrued PTO or other available leave. Upon exhaustion of accrued leave, any remaining leave will be unpaid. Please refer to the Family and Medical Leave Policy for further guidance on the FMLA.
Also found in the Centerspace Team Member Handbook & Policy Manual.
At least 30 days prior to a potential leave, complete this form: https://support.centerspacehomes.com/support/catalog/items/198