NEW! The Standard: Leave & Disability Administrator

We are pleased to announce The Standard as San Bernardino County’s new Protected Leave and Disability administrator, effective July 26, 2025*.
*Employees should continue reporting absences and disabilities to MetLife through July 25, 2025 at 1.855.229.7305 or in the MetLife Portal.

Changes Effective July 26, 2025:

  • Leave of absence and disability claims that take place on or after July 26, 2025 should be reported to The Standard at 1.855.204.3122 or standard.com/absence.
  • Disability claims filed with MetLife on or before July 25, 2025 will remain with MetLife. Employees will continue to receive disability payments from MetLife and should provide any updated return to work reporting or supporting documents to MetLife.
  • Absence claims that were filed on or before July 25, 2025 will be automatically transferred to The Standard for administration. Effective July 26, 2025, employees should update their leave status with The Standard.
  • If an employee has both an absence and disability claim with MetLife prior to July 26, 2025, their disability will remain with MetLife, but their absence claim will now be administered by The Standard. Employees should notify and update both administrators on their leave status accordingly.

Family and Medical Leave Act

The Code establishes standards of conduct required of all public officials and employees for the The Family Medical Leave Act allows you to take up to 12 weeks (26 weeks in some cases) of unpaid, job-protected leave. View the What’s Family Medical Leave Act for more information. For questions call The Standard at 1.855.204.3122, visit The Standard’s Portal, or you can reach Employee Benefits and Services Division (EBSD) at 1.909.387.5787 or EBSDLeaves@hr.sbcounty.gov.

How the Plan Works
  1. If possible, let your supervisor know about your leave 30 days in advance.
  2. Follow all of your Department’s normal call-off procedures.
  3. Contact The Standard to request FMLA at 1.855.204.3122 between 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. PST, Monday – Friday
    1. For leave absences four days or longer, call The Standard by the 4th day to report your absence and request FMLA protection
    2. For intermittent leave, call The Standard within 48 hours of your absence. You may also report intermittent leave at standard.com/absence.
    3. Call The Standard to request FMLA when you are absent due to a Worker’s Compensation illness/injury.
  4. Obtain required forms from your Supervisor or Department Payroll Specialist. The STD and FMLA filing a request instructions and form includes:
    1. Request for Extended Sick & Special Leave (RESSL)
    2. Benefits While on Leave Letter that explains benefit continuation options during a leave.

Short-Term Disability

You can protect a portion of your income when illness or injury prevents you from working. If you have any questions, call EBSD at 1.909.387.5787 or email at EBSDLeaves@hr.sbcounty.gov, contact your payroll specialist, or The Standard at 1.855.204.3122 or standard.com/absence.

The County provides you with Short-Term Disability (STD) benefits in the event of a non-work related illness or injury that requires you to be off work more than seven (7) consecutive days. After you satisfy a waiting period of 7 consecutive calendar days you will generally receive a normal weekly benefit equal to 55% of your base weekly earnings, not to exceed established amounts.

Your base weekly benefit may be reduced if you receive or are entitled to receive other disability payments, such as State Disability Insurance (SDI).

How the Plan Works

Here’s what you need to do:

  1. If possible, let your supervisor know about your leave 30 days in advance.
  2. No later than your fourth day of absence, contact your department payroll specialist to obtain County required paperwork.
  3. Call The Standard, the County’s disability administrator, at 1.855.204.3122 from 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST, Monday – Friday, or file online at standard.com/absence.
  4. You must complete and submit a STD and FMLA filing a request instructions and form, which includes:
    1. Request for Extended Sick & Special Leave (RESSL)
    2. Leave Integration Request (STD claims only)
    3. Benefits While on Leave Letter that explains benefit continuation options during a leave.

You can obtain an STD and FMLA Packet from your department payroll specialist.

Standard Plan Documents
Standard Weekly Benefit

Long-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability is a County-paid benefit that provides partial income replacement for Fire Management Unit and Exempt employees that are unable to work due to a non work-related disability. The benefit pays 60% of your monthly salary, not to exceed established amounts. If you have questions, call EBSD at 1.909.387.5787 or email at EBSDLeaves@hr.sbcounty.gov, contact your payroll specialist, or reach The Standard at 1.855.204.3122 or standard.com/absence.

How the Plan Works

Call The Standard, the County’s disability administrator, at 1.855.204.3122 from 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST, Monday – Friday, or file a claim online at standard.com/absence.

    MetLife Benefit Plan Docs
    MetLife Weekly Benefit

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Additional Documents