Adding a Child to the Family
When you welcome a child into your family, there are steps you should take to update your benefit elections to ensure that your child is covered. Eligible employees may take advantage of leave programs, as well as many other benefits and resources for new parents. On this page:
Time Away from Work
Expecting parents should contact Leaves Management to discuss their eligibility for maternity and parental leave benefits. Additionally, employees should notify their department of their plans for maternity and parental leaves as soon as possible.
Benefits Considerations
- During Parental and Maternity Leave:
- Health and welfare benefits continue at the normal employee rates. The cost of the benefit is deducted from your Parental and Maternity Leave pay.
- Retirement contributions continue during Parental and Maternity Leave.
- During Family and Medical Leave:
- Health and welfare benefits continue at the normal employee rates.
- Retirement contributions continue only if using Paid Time Off.
- Enrolling Your Child in Benefits — You have 60 calendar days from the date of your child’s birth or adoption to add your child to your benefits elections. The benefit election change due to a qualifying life event is done through Workday after your child is born. You must provide your child’s birth certificate within 30 calendar days of enrollment. See the Change Benefit Elections System Guide [pdf] for instructions.
- While in Workday, you may want to review and update your income tax filing status [pdf] and your life insurance beneficiaries [pdf].
- You may also want to update your retirement savings beneficiary designations.
Support Resources
- Guide for New and Expecting Parents [pdf] — primary considerations related to welcoming a child, with special attention to the CMU programs, services and benefits
- Employee Assistance Program — provides CMU employees and their household members with resources to assist with pregnancy, parenting and child care
- Family Care Initiatives — university-offered benefits, information about child care, and other resources helpful to parents and families
- Cyert Center for Early Education — a full-day early care and education program serving the university community; children range from three months to kindergarten
- Child Care Benefits — assistance with child care costs for eligible faculty and staff
- Care for Business — service for eligible faculty, staff and graduate students to find child care providers or backup child care
- Lactation Support Program — request access to a lactation room, view policies and resources related to lactation at CMU
- Flexible Working Hours Policy — full-time staff members may work with their supervisor to arrange an alternative schedule to accommodate caregiving duties
- Will Preparation Service [pdf] — employees enrolled in the Optional Life and AD&D Insurance Plan can receive free will prep assistance