Number:
3.2.15

Policy Name:
Paid Parental Leave

Sponsor:
Shaundria Williams
Director, Human Resources and Talent Management
(Revision)

Custodian:
Human Resources and Talent Management

Effective Date:
July 1, 2023

Next Review Date:
July 1, 2025

Location:
durhamtech.edu/policies-and-procedures/paid-parental-leave

Citation:

 

Policy Statement

In order to assist and support employees in balancing work and family obligations, the College will provide eight weeks of Paid Parental Leave (鈥淧PL鈥) to eligible employees who give birth, and four weeks fully paid parental leave to other eligible parents with a qualifying event (care for newborn, adoption, foster care, or other legal placement).

Procedure

Coverage and Eligibility

Eligibility for Paid Parental Leave shall be made based on the employee鈥檚 months of service and hours of work as of the date of the qualifying life event and is in tandem with the eligibility for Family Medical Leave (FML). Eligible employees must have been employed for the immediate 12 preceding months of the qualifying life event and must have been to have been in pay status for at least 1,040 hours during the previous 12-month period. 

Eligibility determinations are made as of the date that the child is born or placed via adoption, foster, or other legal placement.

Eligible Employees shall receive:

  • Eight weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave to Eligible Employees who have given birth 

  • Four weeks (160 hours) of Paid Parental Leave to Eligible Employees to care for and bond with a newborn or recently adopted, foster, or otherwise legally placed child

  • Four weeks (160 hours) of paid leave for recuperation to Eligible Employees in the event of a stillbirth occurring 20 or more weeks into the pregnancy, commencing immediately following the stillbirth

  • Eligible part-time employees working less than an average of 40 hours per week will receive a pro-rated amount of paid leave based on their average hours worked
     

Leave Usage

Parental paid leave can be used only once in a rolling 12-month period. It is not accrued and must be used within 12 months from the date of the qualifying event or the time is forfeited. Twins or triplets produce only one award of paid parental leave. Both parents may receive leave if they are both eligible employees. The leave is not paid out on separation, is not counted toward retirement, and cannot be donated as shared leave. The leave must be reported separately from all other paid leave. Unused leave is forfeited after 12 months. The leave cannot be used before the birth, adoption, foster placement, or other qualifying event. The leave is available to employees regardless of whether they have exhausted Family and Medical Leave. Documentation may be required, and disciplinary action is allowed if an employee fraudulently requests or uses leave. Whenever possible, eligible employees should submit a written request no less than 30 days in advance to their supervisor and Human Resources Talent Management regarding their intention to use Paid Parental Leave. Eligible employees must submit proof of the qualifying event to Human Resources Talent Management. Acceptable documentation may include medical documentation, FMLA documentation, birth certificate, court order, or placement agreement.

Definitions

Child - A newborn biological child or a newly placed adopted, foster, or otherwise legally placed child under the age of 18 whose parent is an employee eligible for leave under this policy.

Parent - The mother or father of a Child through birth or legal adoption; or an individual who cares for a child through foster or other legal placement under the direction of a government authority

Qualifying event. - When an employee becomes a parent to a child.