General Lab Information

Instructions to Request Leave as an Accommodation During Phase 2 of Brookhaven Lab's Resumption of Operations Plan or Later

If you are notified by your supervisor that you are scheduled to return to work on site during Phase 2 or later and you are unable to do so because of an existing health condition, you must use the following process to request leave as an accommodation.

1. You must apply for leave pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

  • To begin the FMLA process, you must apply for Family and Medical Leave by contacting Lincoln Financial Group at (888) 969-2472. Representatives are available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST. In the event that you are unable to contact the Lincoln Financial Group due to illness/injury, your supervisor should call their representatives on your behalf. For additional information, refer to the FMLA webpage.
  • Lincoln Financial Group will contact your health care provider for additional information.
  • Contact the Benefits Office at 631-344-7516 if you have any questions.

2. Concurrently, while your request for FMLA is pending, you must comply with the Lab's reasonable accommodation and interactive process by submitting supporting documentation identifying the reason(s) for which you are requesting leave as an accommodation. This includes a medical certification form, completed by you and your health care provider.

3. Complete and sign the PHI form to allow your health care provider to provide Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) with the required information.

4. Complete your section of the RRA form. Give the RRA form, signed PHI form, and your job assessment form to your health care provider. Your health care provider should complete all remaining sections of the RRA form.

  • Return the completed RRA and PHI forms to the Occupational Medicine Clinic (OMC). To expedite their delivery, you or your health care provider should transmit them via fax to OMC at 631-344-7366, as indicated on the first page of the RRA form.

5. Submit the completed RRA form no later than Friday, July 10, in order to request leave as an accommodation. NOTE: BSA requires that you submit the RRA form completed by you and your health care provider as part of its interactive process.

  • Until you receive approval of your request for leave as an accommodation, you should use the appropriate absence code on your timecard (sick time, vacation time, etc.), and then recode as necessary once you receive approval.

6. OMC will keep your personal health information confidential. OMC will only confirm with line management that you submitted the required information to support your request for leave as an accommodation. If OMC requires further information to assess your request for leave, OMC staff will contact you directly to discuss what information is needed.

7. If you have submitted sufficient information to support your request for leave, OMC will consult with management regarding your request. Approval of your request for leave as an accommodation will be based on the needs of the Laboratory and approved provided such leave would not cause an undue hardship.

  • Please be advised that if your leave is approved pursuant to FMLA by Lincoln Financial Group, your leave will automatically be approved for the length of time indicated by Lincoln Financial Group.

8. If your request for leave as an accommodation is approved, your HRM or Labor Relations Business Partner will send you a written confirmation.

9. If your request for leave as an accommodation is not approved, your HRM or Labor Relations Business Partner will notify you and provide you the date you are required to report to work. If you do not report to work by that date, you will be contacted by your HRM and manager.

If you have any questions regarding leave as an accommodation and/or the interactive process, please contact Christina Australie at caustralie@bnl.gov or 631-344-2617.

Laboratory Operations Mode is

Normal Operations