Understanding reasonable accommodation, leave, and disability benefit resources: A guide for employees

Divisional Disability Representatives (DDRs) 

Divisional Disability Representatives (DDR) are the designated individuals in each UW-Madison school, college, division, and administrative unit who are responsible for facilitating requests for family and medical leave and reasonable accommodation. The DDR is responsible for managing all confidential medical information and files for employees and job applicants in their division. You should contact your DDR to have a confidential conversation if you are having workplace difficulties that are related to a disability, a chronic medical condition, or a pregnancy-related limitation or if you need medical or parental leave.  

To find your DDR, please visit:  URL 

Employee Disability Resources (EDR) Office 

The EDR Office serves as the university-wide hub for information on the accommodation process for employees and applicants with disabilities or pregnancy-related limitations. EDR offers essential information, consultation, education, and referral services to employees and applicants, DDRs and supervisors and managers. You may have a confidential conversation with the EDR Office about any questions or concerns related to accommodations. To contact the EDR Office, please call 608-263-2407 or WTRS 7-1-1 or email: employee.access@wisc.edu  ​​     ​ 

Reasonable Accommodation 

A reasonable accommodation is any change or modification to the hiring process, a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables a qualified individual with a disability or pregnancy-related limitation to apply for a job, perform the duties of a job, and enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those without disabilities, without causing significant difficulty or disruption in the workplace or, for disability-related requests, posing a direct threat. To request reasonable accommodation, you should contact your DDR (information above). For more information, please visit: URL​     ​ 

FMLA/WFMLA 

The federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Wisconsin Family & Medical Leave Act (WFMLA) are leave entitlements that allow an eligible employee to take job-protected time off work for specific family and/or medical reasons. FMLA/WFMLA allows you to take unpaid leave; however, you may be able to use sick leave or other accrued paid leave that is available to you during an FMLA/WFMLA absence. If you need family or medical leave, please contact your DDR to learn whether you are eligible, whether the reason for your leave is covered under FMLA/WFMLA, and to obtain the appropriate certification form. For more information, please visit: www.hr.wisc.edu/benefits/leave/unpaid-leave/ 

Paid Parental Leave 

The UW-Madison Paid Parental Leave policy provides eligible employees with a maximum of up to 6 (six) weeks of paid time off every 12 months when they experience a qualifying event covered by this policy. For more information, please visit: https://hr.wisc.edu/paid-parental-leave/#detailed-information 

Worker’s Compensation 

Worker’s Compensation is a “no-fault” disability program that pays benefits when an employee sustains a work-related injury or illness. If you sustain an injury or contract an illness at work, please notify your supervisor within 24 hours. This is true even if your injuries or illness are minor and do not require medical treatment. To begin a Worker’s Compensation claim, please complete the Employee’s Work Injury & Illness Report and submit it to your supervisor. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the Employee’s Work Injury & Illness Report form, please visit www.businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/workers-compensation/ or email workcompprog@bussvc.wisc.edu 

Catastrophic Leave 

Catastrophic Leave allows for the continuation of salary and benefits for an eligible employee who has a catastrophic need and has exhausted all of their paid leave. It allows employees to donate earned paid leave credits such as unused vacation, personal holiday, or banked leave (not sick leave or compensatory time) to employees who have a catastrophic need at UW-Madison or a different UW institution. For more information, please visit ​​https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-5062​​​​ 

Income Continuation Insurance (ICI) 

ICI can provide replacement income if you become disabled and you have elected this benefit. For more information, please contact Benefits Services (benefits@ohr.wisc.edu) or visit ​​https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/income-continuation-insurance/​​​​ 

WRS 40.63 (Disability Retirement) 

WRS Disability Retirement 40.63 is a disability benefit under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). You must meet WRS service requirements to be eligible. The benefit is based on your WRS years of service, with remaining years added until your normal retirement age (generally 65) and your three highest years of earnings. For more information, please contact Benefits Services (benefits@ohr.wisc.edu) or visit ​​https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/#:~:text=MetLife%20Vision%20Insurance-,Disability,-Income%20Continuation%20Insurance​​​​ 

Duty Disability (40.65) is a disability benefit under the Wisconsin Retirement System for protective service employees (at UW-Madison: UWPD). If you are in a protective service occupation and become disabled while performing your job you may qualify for a Duty Disability. For more information, please contact Benefits Services (benefits@ohr.wisc.edu) or visit ​​https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/disability/duty/​​​​