Parental Leave

An employee may be granted an unpaid parental leave of absence not to exceed six months when the employee becomes a biological parent or a child is placed in the employee’s home pending adoption. The period of parental leave shall begin no more than two weeks before the expected date of the child’s arrival unless otherwise approved by the supervising physician and end not later than twelve months after the arrival of the child.

A parental leave may be eligible for Family and Medical Leave Act protection if an employee meets the requirements below:

Faculty, A&P, USPS, and OPS employees must be employed for at least twelve (12) months (these need not be consecutive months).
In addition the employee must have worked at least 1250 hours in the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the Leave Request.
Also the employee must work at a location where there are at least 50 employees within 75 miles of the worksite.

If the employee meets both of the above requirements the employee is eligible, upon request, for twelve (12) weeks of unpaid Parental Leave under the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The first 12 work weeks of parental leave will be considered entitlement under FMLA. In no case shall parental leave extend beyond six months.

Approved leave over 160 hours under the Family Medical Leave Act extends an employee’s tenure clock. Faculty members interested in adjusting their tenure clock, or who have questions about their tenure clock, should contact Faculty Excellence at 407-823-1113 to discuss any adjustments.

Click here for additional information on the tenure clock.

Please note the following:

Sick time off may only be used during the period while the employee or spouse is under the care of a physician, normally six to eight weeks after delivery. The employee may also be entitled to use sick leave under the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a newborn that has a serious health condition. When the employee is not the child’s biological parent, parental leave shall normally be leave without pay; however, use of accrued sick leave shall be granted when a UCF Medical Certification Form has been provided that states that the child has a serious health condition or state that the employee is needed to provide basic medical or personal needs, safety, transportation, or to provide psychological support. For adoption, documentation is also required to show that the child has been placed in the employee’s home.
Annual or Compensatory time off may be used during the parental leave.
While on a Full/Continuous Leave of Absence, your salary will be shut off and you will not be paid unless you request Time Off. The request can be submitted early in Workday, prior to your Leave of Absence.
Faculty employees may only use accrued time off during periods covered by a valid employment agreement.

Prior to returning to work, an employee who delivers a child and plans to return to work in less than the standard 6 (or 8) week disability period must submit a Medical Release Form to the Leave Specialist for review.

Parental Leave Forms
Certification of Health Care Provider for Employee’s Serious Health Condition
Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member’s Serious Health Condition
In unit Faculty MOU for Paid Parental Leave
Medical Release Form

For specific information related to Faculty employees including FAQs, modified instructional duties, and paid parental leave, refer to the Faculty Excellence website or Article 17 of the UFF Collective Bargaining Agreement.

For specific information related to Graduate Assistantships and paid parental leave, reference the Graduate Student Catalog.

Click here for frequently asked questions regarding the Family Medical Leave Act. For additional information on the Family Medical Leave Act click here.