We know that throughout your working life there may be times when you are absent from work. Some of the main reasons for absence are covered below.
Family leave
What
happens if I am on maternity/paternity or adoption leave?
If you are absent on maternity/paternity
or adoption leave your membership of the Scheme will continue for
any paid statutory leave period but you will not be required to make
either Ordinary
Contributions or AVCs unless
you wish to do so.
You must advise HR Advice if you wish to continue making contributions during the paid statutory period. Allen & Overy's contributions for this period will continue to be based on your Pensionable Salary, but you may base your AVCs and Ordinary Contributions on either the salary you actually receive or your Pensionable Salary.
Once the paid leave period has ended, your membership of the Scheme will be suspended until the earliest of:
If you die during the agreed period of maternity/paternity or adoption leave, the same benefits will be payable as if you had died in employment, unless you have previously informed Allen & Overy that you are not returning to work, in which case you will be treated as having left employment.
You must advise HR Advice if you wish to continue making contributions during the paid statutory period. Allen & Overy's contributions for this period will continue to be based on your Pensionable Salary, but you may base your AVCs and Ordinary Contributions on either the salary you actually receive or your Pensionable Salary.
Once the paid leave period has ended, your membership of the Scheme will be suspended until the earliest of:
- the date you return to work;
- the date you inform Allen & Overy that you have decided not to return to work, in which case your membership will be deemed to have terminated at the end of the statutory period; or
- the date you lose the right to return to work.
If you die during the agreed period of maternity/paternity or adoption leave, the same benefits will be payable as if you had died in employment, unless you have previously informed Allen & Overy that you are not returning to work, in which case you will be treated as having left employment.
What
happens if I take maternity/paternity or adoption leave whilst
on a career break or unpaid leave?
You will receive the same benefits
during your maternity/paternity or adoption leave as you were entitled
to while on unpaid leave or a career break immediately before the
start of your maternity/paternity or adoption leave - see below for
details.
Illness
Do
I have to make contributions if am off work due to illness?
If you are off work due to illness,
and you continue to receive a Salary,
your membership of the Scheme will be maintained and you and Allen & Overy
will continue to make contributions.
If you are on unpaid sick leave your pensionable employment will be suspended and no Employer's Core Contributions, Ordinary Contributions and Matching Contributions are payable.
If you are transferred to Permanent Health Insurance special terms will apply. Details are available from HR Advice.
If you are on unpaid sick leave your pensionable employment will be suspended and no Employer's Core Contributions, Ordinary Contributions and Matching Contributions are payable.
If you are transferred to Permanent Health Insurance special terms will apply. Details are available from HR Advice.
Unpaid leave
What
happens if I am on unpaid leave?
Unless Allen & Overy decides otherwise,
if your absence is not Paid
Absence, your pensionable employment is suspended and no Core
Contributions, Ordinary
Contributions and Matching
Contributions are payable. However, unless Allen & Overy notifies you otherwise, you remain a member of the
Scheme for death benefits.
Career break
What
happens if I am on a Career Break?
Your pensionable employment is suspended
and no Employer's Core
Contributions, Ordinary
Contributions or Matching
Contributions are payable. However, subject to the rest of this
section and unless Allen & Overy notifies you otherwise, you
remain a member of the Scheme for death benefits. If your career break commenced on or after 1 June 2015, and you die during unpaid leave,
a cash lump sum of 5 times your Salary immediately before your career break started is
payable.
If your period of Career Break is a duration of 12 months or more, you will no longer be eligible to remain in the Scheme. Please refer to the leaver options and death benefits detailed under the section 'What happens to my benefits if I leave the scheme?'.
If your period of Career Break is a duration of 12 months or more, you will no longer be eligible to remain in the Scheme. Please refer to the leaver options and death benefits detailed under the section 'What happens to my benefits if I leave the scheme?'.
Secondment
What
happens if I go overseas or if I go on secondment?
Special terms may apply, but Allen & Overy
will endeavour to maintain your Scheme membership whilst you are
abroad. Please contact HR Advice or your contact in the Global Mobility team who will be able to advise you.