Paid Parental Leave (PPL)

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Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Policy

Benefits & Guidelines

All US full-time exempt Team Members are eligible for Paid Parental Leave (PPL) to support families after the birth, adoption, surrogacy, or legal placement of a child. This policy covers birthing mothers and all eligible non-birthing parents, including dads and domestic partners.

Further Reading: Michaels Announces Enhanced Paid Leave Programs (Feb. 5, 2023)

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How PPL Works

Program Features
Waiting period from hire date
None, as long as the qualifying event occurred on or after Feb. 5 of the plan year.
Benefit amount
Up to 8 weeks of full pay1 for each parent/guardian Team Member.
Application process
Apply directly with Matrix using existing leave process and documentation requirements.
Concurrent policies
PPL hours are applied to any qualifying paid or unpaid family and medical leaves, unless otherwise dictated by applicable federal, state, provincial or local law.If applicable and approved, PPL for birth mothers covered by Michaels Short-Term Disability (STD)2 is paid concurrently3 through the first 8 weeks of PPL.
1This is your usual pay rate in effect when you first became disabled. It does not include bonuses, overtime pay, extra benefits or compensation.
2The STD benefit will be paid based on the duration of disability. Generally, the duration for maternity disability is up to 6 weeks following a normal delivery and up to 8 weeks following a C-section.
3STD is not available in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Washington or New Jersey.

Guidelines for Use of PPL Hours

  • PPL time cannot be used before the birth or effective date of the event (unless required by applicable laws); time off needed before the date should be covered by other types of paid leave, e.g., personal, vacation or sick time.
  • Team Members have a choice to use all paid leave, and/or PPL in accordance with Company policies and applicable laws.
  • PPL will be paid first and then the Team Member can elect to use sick, personal and vacation hours.
  • PPL hours are available throughout the first year following the qualifying event, not just immediately after birth or placement.
  • Covered Team Members receiving STD benefits for the birth of a child must fully exhaust those benefits before requesting the remaining PPL balance within first year following the event.
  • For Team Members not receiving STD pay, full PPL balance available for use as needed throughout child’s first year with the family.
  • PPL may be used more than once, but not within the same 12-month period, unless required by applicable law.
  • Where applicable, PPL follows the same 12-month, rolling backward period as U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave.

Video Overview of Leave, Disability & Voluntary Benefits

Request Leave

Get Support

For assistance, contact Team Member Services at 855-432-MIKE (6453) and select option 2, available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT. You can also open a Knowledge Zone support ticket.

Open the Knowledge Zone

Guidance for Filing Claims with Reliance Matrix

How-To Guides

Important Note About Claims for Kaiser Members

Team Members who are enrolled in a Kaiser medical plan must complete an authorization release form in order to file a claim with Reliance Matrix.

  1. Reliance Matrix will provide you with the authorization release form to sign and return.
  2. This form is required in order for Reliance Matrix to obtain the required medical certification from your physician.
  3. Failure to provide the signed authorization release form to Reliance Matrix will result in your claim being denied.

File Your Claim(s) Online with Reliance Matrix

Provider

Reliance Matrix

Disability, Life & AD&D, Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Contact

Phone: 1-855-RSL-CLAIM (775-2524)