Maternity Leave

Any time an employee is sick or ill due to pregnancy or related conditions, available sick leave may be taken. Usually absences are first charged to sick leave and next to vacation leave, until each is exhausted. Under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act), eligible employees may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for birth or adoption of a child.

The FMLA law requires employees to provide their employers with at least 30 days notice when the leave is foreseeable, such as for the expected birth or adoption of a child. Therefore, an employee must request maternity leave/FMLA in writing and in advance to the employee's immediate supervisor, and/or to the director/department head, and to the appropriate vice president for approval. The leave request should include the approximate date the leave will begin, the expected date of return, and the portion to be charged to sick/vacation leave and the portion that will be without pay. Copies of the approved leave request must be sent to Human Resources and Payroll Services.

Vacation and sick leave accrue during any period of the leave which is charged to sick and/or vacation leave. Holidays, sick, and vacation do not accrue during any leave period that is without pay.

To make arrangements for continuation of benefits, the Employee Benefits Office should be notified and a Benefits Retention Form completed. Health Insurance* benefits during the 12 week FMLA period will be treated the same as for an active employee: Premiums will remain the same and the University share will continue to be paid. Any approved leave extending beyond the 12 week period will require that the employee pay the full premiums.

(*Remember employees have 30 days from the date of birth to add a dependent child to their health insurance contract with UAH.)