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AbsencePlus

In 2025, Macalester transitioned to a third-party administrator (TPA) to coordinate our leave programs. This means that employees who are seeking a leave of absence to address their own health issue, care for a family member, or plan a parental leave will work with the TPA to coordinate their requests.

AbsencePlus brings over 50 years of experience in absence management and partners with many organizations across the country that have implemented paid family leave, which Minnesota is implementing in 2026. Their approach prioritizes employee well-being by offering a supportive, streamlined process for managing leaves and helping to ensure both compliance and a positive employee experience.

All employees will coordinate with AbsencePlus for any leave-related needs. Below are the initial steps you will need to take. We’ve also included additional tools and resources to help you stay informed and prepared throughout your leave process. You can file for a leave of absence 90 days prior to your leave start date or expected start date.

Initiate the Request

To make your request for leave of absence, employees will need to contact AbsencePlus, Macalester’s third-party leave of absence administrator. You can initiate your leave request in three ways:

If it is your first time initiating a claim, follow the instruction on the Creating your Online Account page. If you’ve already created your online account, you can log in to submit your new leave request, or choose one of the two alternative methods available.

HR will continue to be involved in leave management by following up with employees who submit a leave of absence request with AbsencePlus through the end of 2025. This allows us to provide additional support and ensure a smooth experience during the transition. Beginning January 1, 2026, HR will no longer conduct direct outreach for each leave request. At that time, AbsencePlus will serve as the primary point of contact, and HR will provide support only as needed.

Notify your Manager

You should notify your manager about your upcoming need for leave when you feel comfortable doing so. When you’re ready, sharing this information allows you and your manager to have a discussion about your time away and collaborate on a plan to ensure coverage of your responsibilities while you’re on leave.

If your leave is foreseeable, we recommend providing at least 30 days’ notice. For unplanned leave, please inform your manager as soon as you become aware of the need to take time off. This communication helps ensure a collaborative conversation about your time away and supports planning for coverage of your responsibilities during your absence. 

Follow up on any requests from AbsencePlus

It will be extremely important that you follow the process as outlined by AbsencePlus. You will need to provide a Medical Certification to AbsencePlus within 15 calendar days from the receipt of the FMLA Notice of Eligibility and Rights and Responsibilities. Failing to meet the deadlines may result in a denied leave request which may also result in starting the request over.

Additional Information