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It goes by lots of names... Furlough is required for international employees. The purposes of furlough are to, Stateside Service, Home Assignment. Whatever term you or your ministry may use for the time you spent away from your field ministry and in the United States, -and you may hear us use various terms! - it is an incredibly important part of the life and work of the cross-cultural Goer. The purposes are :
- Strengthen ministry financial support with individuals and churches by visiting and casting vision to ministry partners.
- Promote international ministry needs.
- Spend time with family, and reconnect with American culture.
- Take intentional time for your own physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation.
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| 1 year overseas* | 2 years overseas | 3 years overseas | 4 years overseas |
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| 6 -week furloughweeks stateside | 3 -month furloughmonths stateside | 4.5 -month furloughmonths stateside | 6 -month furloughmonths stateside |
*Reliant recommends staying overseas 18-24 months during your first term before coming back for a furlough. Coming back Returning within the first year may disrupt your transition and make it more difficult to acclimate to your host country.
We recommend you start planning about six months before you plan to come stateside. Below is a workbook specifically designed to help you think and plan through various aspects. You can make a copy in Google sheets and use it to the extent that it is helpful in your situation.
UI Button color green newWindow true icon home title Planning for Home Assignment url https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LOBArJ8pUqMsZMXkKeIUclU0xwXTXlkHiUSsrCJcH2A/copy#gid=371945924
These timeframes are meant to provide a framework for healthy rhythms. We understand every ministry and missionary's needs are different and entrust you and your ministry to come to an agreement on furlough the frequency and duration of being in the U.S. Some determining factors in determining furlough may include yearly work rhythms, size of your family, educational needs for children, etc.
In addition, furloughs are considered temporary work assignments away from your field of service. Therefore furlough expenses such as lodging, travel, and meals are reimbursable.
If you plan to be on furlough for more than 6 months, please see Extended Furloughs (6+ Months) for additional information.
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Please notify Reliant as soon as you begin planning for Home Assignment |
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Notify Reliant of your furlough plans by completing the following:
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More Details to Know...
We've put together some great resources for all of your furlough questions. See the pages below.
| Planning Timeline | Review this timeline for a list of ways to prepare, in the areas of logistics, MTD and personally. It's broken down month-by-month, starting with 6 months out from your return to the US. |
| Furlough Request Form | Notify Reliant of your upcoming home assignment by filling out this quick Google form. |
| Debrief and Retreat | You don't have to wait until you are returning stateside permanently to attend a debrief. Review a list of recommended options in the US and abroad. |
| MTD for Home Assignment | Whether you need to raise new monthly giving or are raising funds for a new ministry project, home assignment is a great time to meet face-to-face with partners and communicate your vision. |
| Finances, Insurance, and Taxes | Please review important information on how your time in the US could impact your finances, insurance, and taxes. Includes information on how and what you can reimburse during your home assignment. |
| Extended US Stays (6+ Months) | There may be a few extra things to consider or plan for if your stay in the US will be greater than six months. |
| Reliant Debrief | Home Assignment is a great time to touch base with the International Team. We love hearing updates on your ministry happenings and receiving feedback from your term and your experience with Reliant as a whole. |
| Tips for a Healthy Home Assignment | Furlough should be a space where you are encouraged and prepared for your next term of service. Here are some tips to help you avoid burnout when it is time to return to the field. |
| Parenting during Home Assignment | Home Assignment involves the whole family! This certainly comes with challenges. If you have children of any age, check out some great resources for shepherding your children through this transition. |
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We understand that while on furlough, it may be difficult to separate "working days" and "PTO days" since many locations you visit will serve dual purposes. Remember, Reliant does not track your PTO, whether on a furlough year or a non-furlough year. It is between you and your supervisor to determine how closely you will track your PTO. Keep in mind that time off is a vital part of furlough and should not be neglected. This will enable you to return to the field ready for a new term, rather than returning more depleted than when you left. See PTO and Holiday Policy for International Missionaries for more information. |
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International employees must consult with their supervisors to determine an appropriate time for furlough in order to minimize disruptions to the ministry. All furlough requests must be approved by a supervisor at least one month prior to the home-service departure date. Reliant recommends that furloughs are scheduled at least six months in advance. |
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It is incredibly important to understand how furlough, or any time in the United States, affects your insurance coverage. If you are enrolled in the Aetna plan, your coverage will continue uninterrupted. However, while you are not subject to a deductible overseas, you will have to meet a deductible for any medical expenses incurred within the United States. Additionally, Aetna has different rates of coverage for in-network and out-of-network expenses. Please confirm with Aetna and/or your medical provider that they are in-network before receiving treatment. If you decide to use an out-of-network provider, make sure to understand the costs upfront. You can review the details of the Aetna plan here.
See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information |
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In preparing for furlough, International employees should review of the MTD recurring giving and account balance. If missionaries are below 85% of their monthly support goal, they should make a plan for MTD while on furlough. Missionaries who have a higher percentage should still consider how their monthly expenses might change during their next term and plan to raise additional funds as needed. Reliant has many options to help missionaries with sustaining MTD as it becomes a need. Missionaries can request to be connected with a coach or to a cohort of fellow missionaries for mutual encouragement and support. Contact international@reliant.org for more information. |
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Expenses incurred during home assignments are considered work-related and are eligible for reimbursement according to Reliant's reimbursement policies. Such expenses include airfare to and from the United States, transportation costs, lodging and food expenses (see Per Diem - U.S.). Some expenses (such as those for family members not employed by Reliant) may be reimbursed, but are considered taxable according to Reliant's reimbursement policies. |
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If you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you will need to report any days that you spend in the US when filing Form 2555. For a standard 3-month furlough, you may not see a noticeable impact on your taxes. However, if your furlough extends beyond three months, we strongly recommend talking to a tax professional to understand your tax obligations correctly. See also Extended Furloughs (6+ Months).
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International missionaries are requested to schedule a Professional Debrief with a member of the International Team during furlough. This is best done between the second and fourth week of furlough and lasts approximately one hour. The professional debrief allows missionaries to share with the Reliant team about successes, challenges, and needs they have experienced during their prior term. We encourage non-employed or associate spouses to join the professional debriefs. |
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| You do not have to wait until you are returning from the field permanently to attend a debrief retreat. Many workers choose to attend one during furlough. In fact, it may be incredibly helpful in order to prepare for your next term. We recommend the DAR program from MTI, but you are welcome to explore options from different centers. |
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Are you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6-month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact international@reliant.org if you have questions. |
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