Successive Disabilities

Periods of disability are treated as separate absences if they are:

• due to unrelated causes and are separated by your return to active work for at least one full regularly scheduled workday (normally eight consecutive hours for a full-time employee),
  or
• due to related causes and are separated by a return to active work of at least 520 hours or three calendar months, whichever is longer.

Active work as referenced above does not include Light Duty Assignments.

Each separate disability absence begins with a three consecutive work day waiting period and is tracked separately against the applicable short-term disability maximum duration. 

“Hour of Work,” “Disability” and “Light Duty Assignments” are defined in the Glossary.

Benefit Duration and Amount

For hourly employees who were hired on or before June 22, 2004:
Following an unpaid three consecutive work day waiting period, if you are unable to work due to a pregnancy or non-occupational illness or injury, the short-term disability plan continues 100% of your Pay for up to six months of your disability.

For hourly employees who were hired after June 22, 2004:
Following an unpaid three consecutive work day waiting period, if you are unable to work due to a pregnancy or non-occupational illness or injury, the short-term disability plan continues 100% of your Pay in accordance with the following table, based on your length of Company Service as of the first day of your disability:

Company Service	Maximum Payment Weeks
≥ 3 months but < 6 months	1
≥ 6 months but <1 year	2
≥ 1 year but < 2 years	4
≥ 2 years but < 3 years	6
≥ 3 years but < 4 years	8
≥ 4 years but < 5 years	10
≥ 5 years but < 6 years	12
≥ 6 years but < 7 years	14
≥ 7 years but < 8 years	16
≥ 8 years but < 9 years	18
≥ 9 years but < 10 years	20
Over 10 years	26

For the purposes of determining the duration of your benefit, you will be treated as being hired after June 22, 2004, if you were previously employed with the Company, terminated employment, and were rehired after June 22, 2004.  For the purposes of determining your length of Company Service, the normal Company Service rules apply.  While on short-term disability, you will not accrue Company Service for the purposes of determining the duration of your short-term disability benefit.  However, you will accrue Company Service for certain other benefits.

“Pay” is defined in the Glossary.