If an Employee requires time off in order to care for an ill family member or because of the birth or adoption of a child that is not otherwise covered by any other Dow Jones leave policy such as parental leave, short-term disability, sick leave, etc., the Employee may qualify for paid Compassionate Caregiver Leave. This leave entitles eligible Employees to take up to 4 weeks of paid leave for certain family and medical reasons during a 12-month period. 

During Compassionate Caregiver leave, an eligible Employee is entitled to continue group health plan coverage under the same terms as if the Employee had continued to work. Upon return from Compassionate Caregiver leave, subject to some exceptions, an Employee must be restored to his or her original or equivalent position. Only the Company’s administrator has the authority to approve or deny an Employee’s application for leave.

For purposes of this policy, “family member” is defined as a spouse or domestic partner, a son or daughter (including an adopted child, foster child, stepchild, or child for whom the Employee stands in loco parentis) who is under 18 or over 18 if incapable of self-care, and a parent (but not a parent-in-law).

To be Eligible

To be eligible for Compassionate Caregiver leave, Employees must be full time or part-time regular, and fixed term contractors and:

(i)    have at least 12 months of employment with the Company (which need not be consecutive, but employment periods prior to a break in service of seven (7) years or more will not be counted except in certain circumstances); and

(ii) comply with all the provisions of the policy.