Parental Leave

Paid Parental Leave

UNC Charlotte is committed to promoting the health and well-being of employees and their families. On Sept. 1, 2019, the UNC Board of Governors approved a Paid Parental Leave policy that provides eligible state employees dedicated leave time for care and bonding with a newborn or a child under the age of eighteen (18), newly placed for adoption, foster, or other legal placement. UNC Charlotte implemented the Paid Parental Leave benefit on Jan. 1, 2020.

Coverage and Eligibility

An employee’s eligibility for Paid Parental Leave is based on months of service and hours of work as of the date of the qualifying event. 

Covered Employees

UNC Charlotte employees who become a parent via childbirth, adoption, foster care or another legal placement are eligible if:

• The employee is full-time or part-time (half-time or more) in a permanent, probationary or time-limited (benefits-eligible) position at the time of the qualifying event;
• The employee has been continuously employed by the State of North Carolina for the immediate 12 preceding months; and 
• The employee has been in pay status for at least 1,040 hours in the previous twelve-month period.

Eligibility for Paid Parental Leave and FMLA is determined by the UNC Charlotte Benefits Office.

Leave Amount 

Paid Parental Leave provides: 

• Eight weeks of paid parental leave to eligible employees who have given birth. This is known as Recuperation Leave and provides the first four weeks for recuperation immediately following the birth and four weeks of Bonding Leave to be used within the first twelve months of birth. Bonding Leave must be used as a continuous four-week period of leave.
• Four weeks of paid parental leave to eligible employees who care for or bond with a newborn child or newly adopted, fostered or otherwise legally placed child. This is known as Bonding Leave and must be used within the first twelve month of birth or placement of the child. The leave must also be used as a continuous four-week period of leave.

Leave Requirements

• Each week of Paid Parental Leave will be compensated at 100% of the employee's regular, straight-time weekly pay. 
• Paid Parental Leave must run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). Even if the employee has already exhausted their available FMLA, the employee will remain eligible to use Paid Parental Leave if it has not been used within the past twelve months. 
• When used concurrently with FMLA, Paid Parental Leave must be applied to absences prior to the employee using any available personal leave (vacation, sick, bonus, etc.), or other accrued paid time off or leave without pay.
• Paid Parental Leave cannot be used prior to the birth or legal placement of a child for related medical issues or placement-related legal or court appointments.

Employees Not Covered

Temporary employees (non-students) are not covered by Paid Parental Leave. If temporary employees experience a qualifying event, they should review the Family and Medical Leave Policy, and complete the Extended Leave of Absence Resource Guide and Forms (12-month FMLA). Follow instructions from the Benefits Office for leave entries in Kronos.
 
Non-leave earning faculty (9-month faculty, full-time permanent, part-time (half-time or more) employees) are not covered by Paid Parental Leave. Review the Family and Medical Leave Policy and complete the Extended Leave of Absence Resource Guide and Forms (9-month faculty FMLA)​.

Steps to Request Paid Parental Leave

Leave-earning staff and 12-month faculty, full-time permanent, part-time (half-time or more) or time-limited employees who would like to request Paid Parental Leave should follow the steps below.

1. Review the paid PPL guidelines and FAQs below.
2. Complete the Paid Parental Leave Request Form.
3. Review the Family and Medical Leave Policy and complete the Extended Leave of Absence Resource Guide and Forms (12-month FMLA) 
4. Once eligibility for PPL and FMLA is determined by the Benefits Office, communication and individual consultation will be provided to the employee. Follow instructions from the Benefits Office for leave entries in the timekeeping and leave system (Kronos).

Additional Resources

• Paid Parental Leave Personnel Information Memorandum (PIM)
• UNC System Paid Parental Leave Policy and FAQs 
• Family Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Voluntary Shared Leave Program Policy

Forms

• Paid Parental Leave Request Form (SHRA, EHRA Non-Faculty, 12-Month Faculty)
• FMLA for 12-Month Employees
  • Online Forms
    • Online FMLA Application (Part A)
    • If completing the online FMLA Application, the following paper forms are also required:
      • FMLA Medical Certification (Part B)
      • FMLA Supervisor Certification (Part C)
      • FMLA Fitness for Duty
  • Paper Forms
    • 12 Month FMLA Extended Leave of Absence Resource Guide
    • Family Illness Leave (Used after FMLA is exhausted) (for care of spouse, child, or parent)

Questions?

Contact Marina LeLeux in the Benefits Office at 704-687-8134 or Benefits@charlotte.edu for specific questions.