Medical and Family Leave

When you or a family member experiences a serious health condition, Specialized provides leave options that may allow you to take protected time away from work. Whether you're recovering from your own illness or injury, or caring for a loved one, we're here to help you understand your leave options, available benefits, and the steps needed to request a leave. Specialized partners with Larkin and Unum to support teammates throughout the leave process and connect them with applicable company and state-sponsored benefits.

How to contact LArkin

Your Leave Journey, Supported Every Step of the Way

Whether you're welcoming a new child, caring for a loved one, recovering from a medical condition, or navigating another important life event, Specialized offers a variety of leave programs designed to provide time, flexibility, and peace of mind. We're proud to partner with Larkin, our dedicated leave administrator, to help guide teammates through the leave process, answer questions, and coordinate available benefits. From your first leave request through your return to work, Larkin and Specialized are here to help make your leave experience as smooth and supportive as possible.

Need assistance? Contact Larkin for personalized guidance on your leave options, benefit programs, and next steps.

MEDICAL LEAVE

If you need time away from work because of an illness, injury, or medical condition that prevents you from performing your job, you may be eligible for a medical leave of absence.

  • The length of your leave will depend on your healthcare provider's certification. Before returning to work, you'll need to provide a release from your healthcare provider confirming you're able to return. If you require workplace restrictions or accommodations, Specialized will review your request and determine what support may be available based on your specific situation.

  • If approved, our Short-Term Disability Insurance provides income replacement equal to 60%* of your eligible earnings while you're away from work. You may choose to use accrued paid time off during your leave, but you're not required to do so.

    • *California teammates: You will first file a State Disability Insurance (SDI) claim through California. SDI may replace 60% or 70% of your wages, depending on your earnings. Specialized's Short-Term Disability plan will coordinate benefits and may provide additional coverage up to the plan maximum. Visit the Benefits Hub for complete plan details and limitations.

    • Colorado teammates: Medical leave benefits may be available through Colorado Paid FAMLI. To get started, contact Larkin, Specialized's leave administration partner. Larkin will help you begin the leave process and provide guidance on submitting your claim through Unum, the administrator for Colorado Paid FAMLI benefits. You can also review the Colorado Paid Leave Program flyer for additional information.

Family Leave

  • Time away from work to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

  • Eligible teammates may take up to 12 weeks of Family Leave during a rolling 12-month period measured forward from the first day of leave.

  • Family Leave is generally unpaid. You may choose to use accrued paid time off during your leave, but you are not required to do so.

    For California teammates: California Paid Family Leave (PFL) may provide wage replacement benefits while you are caring for an eligible family member. Contact Larkin for additional information and guidance on available benefits.

  • For Colorado teammates: Colorado FAMLI benefits may apply during your leave. Contact Larkin, Specialized's leave administrator, to begin your leave request and receive guidance through the process. Larkin will help coordinate next steps, including submitting a claim through Unum for Colorado FAMLI benefits. For additional information, review the Colorado Paid Leave Program Flyer.

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Need Time Away From Work?

Whether you're welcoming a child, recovering from an illness, caring for a family member, serving in the military, or managing a personal situation, Specialized offers leave programs designed to support you through life's important moments. Our leave partner, Larkin, is available to help you understand your options and guide you through the leave process from start to finish.

Contact Information: On our Confluence Page here

Larkin: Ways to request a leave

  • New Hire Notices here

We conform to the various state and federal leave laws, policies and guidelines. If you qualify for the time away to be counted towards Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allotment, your job can be protected for up to 12 weeks. FMLA runs concurrent with other leave programs. Your rights under FMLA can be found on the federal labor posters.

If your state provides any paid benefits for disability or family leave, you are responsible for filing and managing those claims directly with your state. During an LOA, time off accrual is paused and will restart upon return to work. Missed insurance premium deductions while on leave will be covered by the company during an approved LOA, unless otherwise noted.

To follow are types of leave and provisions for each, effective April 1, 2019:

FAMILY LEAVE

  • Time away to care for a family member who has a serious health condition.

  • Duration may be up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period measured forward from the first use.

  • Family Leave is unpaid. *You may use your accrued paid time off, but are not required to do so.

* If you live in California, PFL may apply. Contact Larkin for more information.

*If you live in Colorado, Colorado paid FAMLI leave benefits will apply. Contact Larkin, ourmain leave administratorfor more information or to submit your leave request. Larkin will note your leave request and direct you to submit a claim form online to Unum, Specialized’s vendor of choice to process Colorado’s FAMLI benefits, see flyer.

MATERNITY DISABILITY LEAVE (refer to Parent-To-Be Guide)

  • Medical leave specifically for birth mothers before and after the birth of a child.

  • Based upon physician’s certification. Generally, 6 – 8 weeks.

  • New birth mothers qualify for the equivalent of full pay for up to 6 weeks while on Maternity Disability Leave. *This is achieved through a combination of any applicable disability plans, state paid benefits, and a company paid supplement. People & Culture will provide instructions for maximizing these programs to keep you whole for up to 6 weeks. Note – the 6 weeks of paid maternity leave begins once the baby is born. Maternity Disability Leave lasting longer than 6 weeks will be covered only by approved disability plans or state benefits. You may use paid time off to supplement disability pay gaps, but are not required to do so.

* If you live in California, SDI may apply. The company supplement covers pay after state and STD benefits have been applied.

*If you live in Colorado, Colorado paid FAMLI leave benefits will apply. Contact Larkin, ourmain leave administratorfor more information or to submit your leave request. Larkin will note your leave request and direct you to submit a claim form online to Unum, Specialized’s vendor of choice to process Colorado’s FAMLI benefits, see flyer.

PARENTAL BONDING/PATERNITY LEAVE (refer to Parent-To-Be Guide)

  • Eligibility: 1 year of service with Specialized

  • Time away from work for a new parent to bond with a newborn, newly adopted child, or foster child.

  • Duration may be up to 12 weeks, which may be taken consecutively, or intermittently within the first 12 months following the birth or adoption. Effective 2020, Intermittent leave must be taken in increments of 1 week or more. In California, employees may take up to 2 instances of bonding leave of any duration. If you qualify for the time to be counted towards Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allotment, your job can be protected for up to 12 weeks. Your rights under FMLA can be found on the federal labor posters.

  • A new parent qualifies for the equivalent of full pay while on Parental Bonding Leave for up to 8 weeks. This is achieved through a combination of any applicable state paid benefits and a company paid supplement. People & Culture will provide instructions for maximizing these programs to keep you whole for a 8-week period. Parental Bonding Leave lasting longer than 8 weeks will not be paid. You may use accrued paid time off or sick time, but are not required to do so.

  • SF Teammates only - please read additional policy information here regarding the San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance (PPLO).

  • *If you live in Colorado, Colorado paid FAMLI leave benefits will apply. Contact Larkin, ourmain leave administratorfor more information or to submit your leave request. Larkin will note your leave request and direct you to submit a claim form online to Unum, Specialized’s vendor of choice to process Colorado’s FAMLI benefits, see flyer.

MILITARY LEAVE

  • Time away from work for military service, whether short or long term. We comply with all state and federal requirements.

  • Duration may be any length of time as ordered by the military.

Specialized offers up to 15 business days of paid leave, coordinated with any military pay. You may use accrued paid time off while on Military Leave, but are not required to do so.

* If you live in California, PFL may apply. The company supplement covers pay after state benefits have been applied.

PERSONAL LEAVE (UNPAID)

  • Time away from work for personal matters should be covered by use of accrued paid time off plans (request time off in Workday for manager approval if you choose to use paid time off for your personal leave).

  • Unpaid leave of absence requests for personal reasons may be considered and approved on a case by case basis. Unpaid time off requests exceeding 2 weeks should be managed as a leave of absence through contacting Larkin.

  • Approval and duration of leave is at management’s discretion.

  • A teammate using paid time off plans for personal reasons is not considered to be on a leave of absence. Unpaid time off requests for personal reasons up to 2 weeks are not considered to be a leave of absence.

  • Personal Leave, if approved, is unpaid.

  • Insurance premium deductions will be put in arrears and collected upon return to work. Teammates can choose to pay premiums upon their return to work by one of the following:

  1. Writing a check made out to Specialized Bicycle Components and sending it to P&C in the Morgan Hill office

    OR

  2. Deducting the missed premiums from their paychecks upon their return doubled up until arrears was paid.