Parental leave grants eligible employees up to six (6) weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement or legal adoption of a child under age 18.
Parental leave is automatically counted toward the 12-week family and medical leave entitlement for eligible employees.
Select one of the following links or scroll down for specific information:
Eligibility
Approval
Length of Leave
Benefits Continuation
Compensation
Resources
Eligibility
Employees who have completed six months of continuous employment and are in the following employee groups are eligible for parental leave.
- Academic staff members.
- Civil service employees in a trainee, apprentice, learner, or status appointment or in a provisional appointment intended to be permanent.
Approval
Employees requesting parental leave should seek approval from their appropriate supervisor.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees are granted up to six (6) weeks of paid leave following the birth, or upon placement or legal adoption of a child under age 18. Part-time eligible employees receive up to six (6) weeks of leave prorated based on their FTE at the time of the birth or adoption. Parental leave is limited to one leave per twelve-month academic appointment year. For eligible employees, parental leave taken will count toward the 12-week FMLA entitlement.
Parental leave following the birth of a child must be taken in full immediately after the birth or immediately following the child's release from a health care facility to the home.
Parental leave for an adopted child may be taken in full either at the time of initial placement or at the time of legal adoption.
Leave cannot be taken on an intermittent schedule, or on a reduced leave schedule for a period lasting longer than two weeks.
Benefits Continuation
While on parental leave, employees continue to receive the same State and University benefits as when actively working. All State-paid contributions continue.
Compensation
Eligible employees receive their regular rate of pay while on parental leave. Employees who resign employment before or at the expiration of the parental leave normally shall be required to reimburse the University for the cost of wages paid during the leave.
Resources
Select from the appropriate campus and/or employee group for specific information.
Policy and Rules for Civil Service Staff
Related policies are currently under revision.
University Policies
Springfield: Contact the campus Human Resources Office