Child Care Leave

Child care leave provides the opportunity for eligible employee to request up to six (6) months of unpaid leave to care for a newborn child or care for a child at the time of foster care or adoption.

Child care leave shall run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave for eligible employees.

Qualifying Events

• Birth of a Child;
• Placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care

An eligible employee will be required to provide the university with thirty (30) days advance notice of the employee’s intention to take child care leave. An employee must complete the Request for Leave Form and submit this form to the benefits secure upload. The only exception will be when unforeseen circumstances prevent the employee from providing the required notice. A request must be submitted as soon as reasonably possible when the employee becomes aware of the need. In the case of a request for a child care leave by an adoptive parent, this thirty (30) day requirement shall be waived.

The Request for Leave form* must be completed and submitted to the benefits secure upload to determine and confirm eligibility.

Accrued Leave Use

Child care leave is an unpaid leave of absence. Additional leave of absences will run concurrently with this leave. Use of accrued will be required while an employee is on approved on Child Care Leave in the following order:

1. Employee will be required to use Maternity Leave (six (6) weeks while on approved Family and Medical Leave)
2. Employee will be required to use Parental Leave (three (3) weeks while on approved Family and Medical Leave)
3. Three (3) weeks fo sick leave for remaining twelve (12) weeks of Family and Medical Leave.
4. Vacation leave for remaining weeks of Child Care Leave (sick leave cannot be used after the twelve (12) weeks of approved Family and Medical Leave.

Return to Work

As a condition of returning to employment, an employee on a leave of absence that made the employee unable to perform the essential functions of the employee’s position, must submit documentation from the employee’s physician that the employee is able to resume work without restrictions. The employee's physician must complete and return the Return to Work and Release Form BEFORE the employee returns to any work.

Forms and Certifications

Request for Leave Form*
Return to Work and Release Form*

Refer to the OEA/ACE/APAS/FOP Collective Bargaining Agreements for bargaining unit members or to University Policy 3356-7-06 Leave of absence without pay, extended childcare, excluded professional/administrative staff.