PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
Effective: August 15, 2024
Purpose: To provide for paid leave for eligible employees.
Scope: This policy applies to all eligible employees campus wide.
Responsible Office: Human Resources
Policy Statement: Emporia State University shall provide paid parental leave for eligible employees in accordance with Kansas Board of Regents Policy.
Eligibility
Employees, who meet benefits eligibility requirements, as defined by Emporia State University, and who have been employed for twelve (12) months with the state, shall be eligible to receive paid parental leave following a qualifying event (e.g., birth or placement of a child for adoption (up to six (6) years of age). Twelve (12) month employment need not be consecutive but must have been in benefits eligible status for at least one day of the month to be counted.
Leave Period
Each parent designated as the primary caregiver for purposes of this policy shall receive up to eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave, and each parent who is designated as the secondary caregiver for purposes of this policy shall receive up to four (4) weeks of paid parental leave. For part-time employees, the leave shall be pro-rated to their part-time appointment for the applicable time period. The fact that a multiple birth or adoption occurs (i.e., the birth or adoption of twins) does not increase the length of paid parental leave for that event.
If both parents are employees and eligible for paid parental leave, one (1) employee must be designated the primary caregiver and the other employee must be designated the secondary caregiver. In such instances, paid parental leave may be taken concurrently, consecutively, or at different times within the twelve (12) week period immediately following the qualifying event.
Benefit
Paid parental leave under this policy shall be at one-hundred percent (100%) of the eligible employee’s regular rate of pay, and, while using paid parental leave, employees continue to accrue vacation and sick leave, as well as all other regular benefits in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, Board policy and statutes.
Paid parental leave only applies during periods when the employee is in paid status. Employees on academic year or less than twelve (12) month appointments may not request or receive paid parental leave for periods when not on paid status.
Official and observed holidays do not count against paid parental leave. Employees utilizing paid parental leave on an official or observed holiday shall receive holiday credit. Employees may be permitted to take leave of other types (i.e., sick leave and vacation leave) in addition to the eight (8) or four (4) weeks of paid parental leave, in accordance with other applicable Board and university policies.
Paid parental leave must be taken within the twelve (12) weeks immediately following the date of birth or date of placement for adoption of a child. Employees will be permitted to take this leave intermittently or in a solid block of time within those twelve (12) weeks. Any paid parental leave shall run concurrently with leave permitted under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), if applicable.
Paid parental leave under this policy is not transferrable and cannot be donated through a shared leave program or in any other way. Any amount of paid parental leave not utilized by the eligible employee in the twelve (12) week period shall be forfeited.
Nothing in this policy shall be construed as prohibiting the University from providing additional leave beyond that permitted under this policy, to the extent allowed by applicable rule, regulation, Board policy or statute, or from reassigning an eligible employee’s duties while the employee is on paid parental leave.
Definitions: All words and phrases shall be interpreted utilizing their plain meanings unless otherwise defined in another University or Board of Regents policy or by statute or regulation.
Procedures: All procedures linked and related to the policies above shall have the full force and effect of policy if said procedures have first been properly approved by the University’s administrator in charge of Human Resources Procedures.
[Human Resources procedures - coming soon]
Related Policy Information: 3.26 – Family Medical Leave Act; Executive Order 21-24 [https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EO-21-24-Parental-Leave-Executed.pdf]