Whether you have had a birth, adoption, or foster care placement event, we know this means change for you and your family. We are pleased to offer eligible employees 4 weeks of continuous paid parental leave. This leave will run concurrently with leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and must meet eligibility criteria (worked 1,250 hours and employed within the last 12 month period).

Important Program Information:

• Remember to submit your leave of absence request by providing a 30-day notice.
• Both city parents who meet eligibility guidelines are eligible for 4 weeks.
• Paid parental leave will be compensated at your base rate and will be paid on your regularly scheduled pay dates.
• Use of paid parental leave will not impact your other available leave banks.
• Short-Term Disability is calculated after paid parental and medical leave banks are exhausted that runs concurrent with this employee paid benefit.
• Paid leave is available to take within 12 months of the date of birth, adoption, or foster care placement.

Who is eligible for paid parental leave?

• All benefit eligible employees who meet FMLA eligibility criteria of 1 year of service and at least 1,250 hours worked.
• Employee has a birth, adoption, or foster care placement event.
• Employee must submit the required medical certification through the FMLA process.

How long is paid parental leave?

Paid parental leave is a maximum of up to four weeks of an employee's base rate of pay. Fire employees who work 56-hour weeks will receive the equivalent time of up to four weeks of leave based on their schedule. The four weeks of paid parental leave does not extend the annual FMLA entitlement of 12 weeks. Multiple births of twins, triplets, etc. are only eligible for up to 4 weeks of paid parental leave.

Once I've been approved for paid parental leave, how do I record this time?

Human Resources will verify your eligibility and once approved for paid parental leave, you will receive specific instructions on how to code your timecard.

What if both parents are city employees?

Each parent is eligible for up to four weeks of paid parental leave.

Is paid parental leave available for stillbirths, late term miscarriages and/or surrogacy?

These events are not part of the paid parental leave program, but FMLA leave can be requested for these events.

How does paid parental leave work with FMLA?

Paid parental leave runs concurrent with an employee's FMLA entitlement. Paid parental leave provides 100% of an employee's base pay for the first four weeks of eligible FMLA leave time.

What if I have exhausted all my FMLA entitlement prior to the birth, adoption or foster care placement event?

Employees who exhaust their FMLA entitlement due to reasons other than bonding are eligible for paid parental leave.

How does paid parental leave work if I've enrolled in Short Term Disability Benefits?

Short term disability benefit payments begin after an employee has exhausted all paid parental leave and medical leave time. In the case of an employee giving birth, the employee would receive up to four weeks of paid parental leave time (assuming eligibility criteria is met), exhaust any medical leave time and then short term disability benefits would begin.

What if I leave the city after utilizing paid parental leave?

Employees who separate employment after utilizing paid parental leave are not responsible for repayment of the benefit amount.

Can an employee take paid parental leave on an intermittent basis?

Paid parental leave must be taken on a continuous basis only. Intermittent utilization is not part of the program.

What if there's a holiday during the period of paid parental leave?

Paid parental leave is up to four weeks of city paid leave. A holiday within the four-week period does not entitle an employee to an extra period of paid parental leave. Depending on when the leave is initiated, it may extend an employee's FMLA entitlement by the duration of the holiday time.

Does paid parental leave affect any of my other leave banks?

Utilizing paid parental leave will not affect other leave banks. Employees can utilize other leave time after paid parental leave is exhausted.

What if I had a birth, adoption, or foster care placement event prior to the policy effective date?

A birth, adoption or foster care placement is considered an event which is part of the eligibility for the paid parental leave benefit program. Events occurring prior to the program's inception are not considered eligible events and thereby not entitled to paid parental leave benefits.

If an employee adopts a stepchild (child of the employee's spouse from a previous relationship), is this an eligible event for the paid parental leave program?

Possibly. FMLA provides for leave time for the initial placement of an adopted child within an employee's household. If the adopted stepchild is being newly placed into the home, paid parental leave would be available.