*These guidelines may not be applicable to staff members governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Pay practices for such staff members shall be governed by the terms of the applicable CBA.

Who do I work with to schedule Staff Parental and Maternity Leave?
Eligible staff members should notify their supervisor as early as possible to plan for time off. You must also contact Leaves Administration in advance of an anticipated leave. The Leaves Administration team will provide detailed instructions for parental/maternity leave.

What documentation is required to support a request for Staff Parental and Maternity Leave?
For maternity leave, a short-term disability claim must be initiated with MetLife prior to the birth. MetLife can be reached at 866-729-9201. Parental Leave and Family Medical Leave forms must be completed and submitted to the Office of Human Resources prior to your expected leave start date. Proof of birth (e.g., birth certificate) and/or proof of placement (e.g., letter showing placement of adoption, foster care or legal guardianship) is required for parental leave.

Can I use maternity leave to cover absences related to my pregnancy or prenatal care?
Maternity leave is not available until the child is born. For absences related to pregnancy or prenatal care, you may use other types of time off for which you are eligible, such as PTO, floating holidays, short-term disability and/or family medical leave.

Can I use Staff Parental and Maternity Leave intermittently or part time?
No. Maternity leave must be used as a single block of six or eight weeks immediately following the birth of a child. Parental leave must be used as a single block of six weeks within 12 months of the birth or placement of a child for adoption, foster care or legal guardianship. If less than six or eight weeks of maternity leave/six weeks of parental leave is used, the remaining balance is forfeited.

I have been working at CMU for six months, but my baby was born three months ago. Am I eligible for Parental Leave?
Yes. Upon completion of six months of service, you are eligible for parental leave benefit until 12 months from the birth. Births or placements that occurred before July 1, 2024 are eligible for the original parental leave benefit of two weeks within 12 months of the birth/placement. 

Can maternity leave be used following a miscarriage or stillbirth?
Maternity leave is available for a stillbirth when the staff member has an approved disability claim with MetLife.

I am expecting multiple births. Am I eligible for a longer Staff Parental and Maternity Leave?
No. One leave is available for each birth event associated with a pregnancy, whether single or multiple births.

Can I use Staff Parental and Maternity Leave more than once within a single year?
Yes. Maternity and parental leave are available following each birth event. However, parental leave may only be used once in a 12-month period following foster care or legal guardianship.

I am in the process of adopting/fostering a child. When does my eligibility to use parental leave begin?
You may use parental leave within 12 months of the date the child is placed with you for adoption/ foster. Any time off prior to the placement of the child must be PTO or floating holidays.

When does the availability of parental leave renew for foster care placement and legal guardianship?
Eligible staff may use parental leave once in the 12 months following a child’s placement for foster care or legal guardianship. The availability renews 12 months from the date of placement. For example, if you have a child placed in your care and you are using parental leave starting on August 1, 2024, you would not be eligible to use parental leave again for this type of event until August 1, 2025.

May parental leave be used more than once for the same child?
Parental leave may only be used once per child. For example, a staff member who uses parental leave at the time of foster placement may not request another period of parental leave if the same child is placed back in the family’s foster care or if they are later adopted by the family.

Does parental leave carry over if I have not used the full six weeks by the end of 12 months?
No. You must use the six weeks of parental leave within 12 months of the child’s birth or placement for adoption, foster care or legal guardianship.

Am I still eligible for holiday pay or PTO accrual during Staff Parental and Maternity Leave?
Staff members who are on staff parental/maternity leave on a day observed by the university as a holiday will not be considered observing that holiday for timekeeping purposes. Holidays occurring during staff parental/maternity leave do not extend the leave. Eligible staff members do not accrue PTO during staff parental/maternity leave. If a scheduled leave crosses over a calendar year, any unused floating holidays will be lost.

Can I use Staff Parental and Maternity Leave to receive pay during a period of the year when I would not ordinarily be paid?
No. Staff Parental and Maternity Leave only provides salary replacement during periods when the staff member would ordinarily receive pay.

How does transferring between positions affect a staff member’s ability to use parental leave if one of the positions is not eligible for the leaves?
If you are eligible for parental leave at the time of the child’s birth or placement but later transfer into an ineligible position, your ability to use the leave ends at the time of the transfer. If you are in an ineligible position at the time of the child’s birth or placement but later transfer into an eligible position, you may use parental leave for that birth or placement.

Can a supervisor refuse a staff member’s request or ask them to reschedule their leave?
No. Because these leaves are covered under the Family Medical Leave Act, you do not have the ability to modify or reject a leave request.

What should a supervisor do if a staff member has questions about Staff Parental and Maternity Leave?
All questions should be referred to the Office of Human Resources Leaves Administration team.