Parental leave grants eligible employees up to six (6) weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care, or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age. Parental leave will be available to the birthing parent in cases of stillborn or newborn fatality if the child was at least 25 weeks gestation.
Parental leave is automatically counted toward the 12-week family and medical leave entitlement for eligible employees.
Select one of the following links or scroll down for specific information:
Eligibility
Approval and Documentation
Length of Leave
Benefits Continuation
Compensation
Resources
Eligibility
Upon hire, employees in the following groups are eligible for parental leave:
- Faculty
- Academic Professional employees
- Civil service employees in an apprentice, intern, or status appointment or in a provisional appointment intended to be permanent
- Postdoctoral Research Associates
- Other employee groups as determined or approved by a collective bargaining agreement or outside accreditation agency.
Approval and Documentation
Employees requesting parental leave should seek approval from their appropriate HR representative. Employees must complete the University of Illinois Leave Application: Family and Medical Leave/Parental Leave/Unpaid Family Bereavement Leave form. If the leave request is for a stillborn or newborn fatality, medical documentation may be required.
Length of Leave
Eligible employees are granted up to six (6) weeks of paid leave for the birth of a child, or the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age. Part-time eligible employees receive up to six (6) weeks of leave prorated based on their FTE at the time of the birth or adoption or foster care placement. Parental leave is limited to six weeks total leave every twelve months based on the first date of leave For eligible employees, parental leave taken will count toward the 12-week FMLA entitlement.
Parental leave is taken as a block of time following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age, or if agreed upon by the employee and supervisor or responsible department official, on an intermittent basis.
- The aggregate time of parental leave cannot exceed six (6) weeks.
- Parental leave must be taken in full day increments.
- Employees taking parental leave on an intermittent schedule must have that schedule agreed upon with their supervisor.
Parental leave must be taken within 12 months following the first date of the qualifying event and is limited to one leave approval per academic appointment year based on the first date of leave.
If the birthing parent requests to return to work prior to six (6) weeks beyond the birth, the birthing parent may be required by the appropriate HR representative to obtain a statement from a health care provider that they are able to resume work.
Benefits Continuation
While on parental leave, employees continue to receive the same State and University benefits as when actively working. All employer-paid contributions continue.
Compensation
Eligible employees receive their regular rate of pay while on parental leave. Employees who resign employment before or at the expiration of the parental leave normally shall be required to reimburse the University for the cost of wages paid during the leave.
Resources
Select from the appropriate campus and/or employee group for specific information.
Policy and Rules for Civil Service Staff
Related policies are currently under revision.