Leave & Disability

Leave and Disability Benefits

If you need to take time away from work due to illness, injury, or a qualifying family event, NorthWestern Energy offers leave and disability benefits to support you throughout the process.

Whether your leave is planned or unexpected, it’s important to understand how to get started, what to expect while you’re away, and how to prepare for your return to work.

Start with the resources below to request leave or learn how the process works.

Request leave or disability benefits

Start your leave or disability claim with step-by-step instructions. Learn how to request FMLA, parental leave, or short-term disability, when to notify your supervisor, and how to begin your claim with Lincoln Financial.

View instructions

 

Understand the leave and disability process

Learn what to expect during your leave or disability process, including how claims are reviewed, how pay and PTO may be affected, what communication is expected, and how to prepare for your return to work.

View guide

 

Short-Term Disability Income Benefit Plan

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Short-Term Disability Income Benefit Plan

NorthWestern Energy provides, at no cost, short-term disability (STD) benefits, which provide up to 26 weeks of income assistance if you're unable to work due to your own qualifying illness or injury that is not work-related. The benefit replaces all or a portion of your income and extends for up to 180 days.

There is a waiting period before STD benefits begin that is generally satisfied by using PTO. Lincoln Financial Group administers the benefit and the company pays benefits through normal payroll processing.

Please view the Plan Summary for additional information.
Plan Summary

Long-Term Disability Insurance

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Long-Term Disability Insurance

NorthWestern Energy's long-term disability (LTD) benefit is delivered under a fully insured plan with Lincoln Financial Group and provides for a monthly benefit of 60% of your pre-disability base pay for a qualifying illness or injury that extends beyond a 180 day benefit elimination period. 

The premiums are 100% company paid, with no employee contribution required.

Please view the Plan Summary for additional information.
Plan Summary

Family and Medical Leave (FML)

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Family and Medical Leave (FML)

Consistent with federal law, NorthWestern Energy will grant eligible employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period for:

  • Birth or adoption of a child;
  • Employee's own serious health condition;
  • To care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition;
  • To care for a covered military service member recovering from an illness or injury sustained during active service (allows for an additional 14 weeks of leave)

Employees are required to use available PTO for the leave before unpaid FML. The leave is generally paid using PTO.  PTO, STD and Workers' Compensation run concurrently with FML and count toward the total 12 or 26 weeks of FML available. Lincoln Financial administers the benefit.

Click on the Benefit Policy link below for additional information.

Benefit policy

Parental Leave

The NorthWestern Energy short term disability plan provides income replacement for any period of disability arising from pregnancy complications, in addition to the postpartum recovery period associated with the birth. Short Term Disability and Family & Medical Leave are administered by Lincoln Financial Group.
Benefit Policy

Bereavement Leave

NorthWestern Energy provides paid time off for grieving the loss of a loved one, attending funeral services, making funeral arrangements and addressing other matters related to the loss of the employee’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, stepsibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law, daughter/son-in-law, or brother/sister-in-law. Click on the Benefit Policy link, below, for additional information.
Benefit Policy