Leaves Of Absence

FMLA Overview

A&B offers its employees a variety of leaves of absence, including Family and Medical Leaves, which are provided in accordance with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and, if applicable, state law.

Note that the information provided below is just a summary, and that in certain states the actual leave polices may differ to comply with state law.

You may take an unpaid FMLA leave if you...

• Have worked for A&B for at least 12 months, during which time you worked at least 1,250 hours during the previous 12 months; and,

• Work at a location where there are at least 50 employees employed by A&B (or an affiliated company) within 75 miles.

FMLA leave is available if you need to care for...

• Your child after his or her birth,

• A child after he or she has been placed with you for adoption or foster care,

• Your spouse/domestic partner, child or parent who has a serious health condition, or

• Yourself, if you have a serious health condition and are unable to work.

If you qualify for an FMLA leave, it will be granted without pay after you have exhausted your paid time off benefits. When you return from your leave, you will be returned to your original position, or a position with equivalent pay, benefits and employment terms.*

To take a leave, you should provide at least 30 days' advance written notice if the leave is "foreseeable," or as much notice as possible. If the leave is for your serious health condition, you will be required to obtain a medical certification verifying a fitness for duty report.

Additional details regarding your leave options are available through your local Human Resources representative. For details regarding the effect of an FMLA leave on your other A&B benefits, see What Happens to Your Benefits.

Other Types Of Leave

A&B also provides unpaid leaves of absence to its salaried non-bargaining employees for the following reasons...

• Military reserve training

• Extended military service

• Personal circumstances

• Illness or injury

For complete details regarding the conditions and lengths of leaves available, contact your supervisor or local Human Resources representative. If you are considering taking a leave of absence, you should discuss your situation with your supervisor as far in advance as possible.

What Happens To Your Benefits

A&B will pay its share of the costs of maintaining your pre-tax FlexSolutions coverages throughout your approved unpaid leave at the same level as when you were an active employee. This includes...

• Your and your dependents' health care coverage, plus

• Your Employee Life, AD&D, and LTD coverages.

Meanwhile, you may be required to continue to pay your share of the cost of any of these coverages.

If you fail to make any required contributions on a timely basis, your coverage can be stopped during your approved unpaid leave (this will generally only apply if your payment is more than 30 days late).

Your coverage(s)—and therefore your contributions—will be the same coverage(s) in force while you were an active employee.

If any or all of your coverages end while you are on an unpaid leave, these coverages will be reinstated on the date you...

• Return to work from an approved unpaid leave, or

• Re-enroll by filing a written request with A&B to deduct the required contribution from your pay.

Your benefits will be reinstated as if there had been no break in coverage, as long as you re-enroll within 31 days of returning to work. This means that you will not have to provide evidence of insurability, and any pre-existing condition limitations or non-confinement provisions will not apply.