Overview
An employee may be granted a parental leave of absence 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 (In unit Instructional Faculty are addressed separately in the UFF Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Parental Leave
- Eligibility: Faculty, A&P, Executive Service, USPS employees
- Advance Notice: 30 days prior
- Duration: Up to 6 months
- Use of Time Off: Sick, other time off, or unpaid; If not fully unpaid, minimum 20 hours time off per pay period
- Pay Impact: Changes only if unpaid leave is used; Submit Time off request in Workday prior to Leave of Absence (LOA)
- Work During Leave: Not permitted
- Both Parents at UCF: No limitation
- Usage Limit: Unlimited
- Forms Required: Certification of Healthcare Provider (CHCP)
A Reduced Work Schedule Unpaid Parental Leave allows you to work part time. Pay is based on hours worked and time off used. Exempt employees must use accrued or unpaid time off for hours not worked; Overtime eligible employees are paid only for hours worked or time off used. A Reduced Work Schedule form is required along with the CHCP.
- Eligibility: Faculty with time-off accrual, A&P, Executive Service, USPS employees
- Advance Notice: 3 months prior to leave start date
- Duration: Instructional faculty – one semester; others – up to 16 weeks
- Use of Time Off: Deducted from accrued time per regulation & MOU
- Pay Impact: No change in paycheck
- Work During Leave: Not permitted; must return for one year
- Both Parents at UCF: Only one parent may use
- Usage Limit: Maximum of 2 times
- Forms Required: MOU and CHCP
Memo of Understanding (MOU):
For specific information related to:
- In Unit 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.
- Staff and Non Unit Faculty Employee’s paid parental leave, refer to UCF Regulation 3.040 (15).
- Graduate Assistantships and paid parental leave, reference the Graduate Student Catalog.
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 the above requirements the employee is eligible, upon request, for twelve (12) weeks of Parental Leave under the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The first 12 work weeks(or any eligible time period) of parental leave will be considered entitlement under FMLA and run concurrent with unpaid or paid parental leave of absence.
Learn more about the Family Medical Leave Act and review frequently asked questions regarding FMLA.
Approved leave over 160 hours 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.
View additional information on the tenure clock.
Faculty employees may only use accrued time off during periods covered by a valid employment agreement.
For adoption, documentation is required to show that the child has been placed in the employee’s home rather than a Certification of Healthcare Provider.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I have outside employment?
You must complete Conflict of Interest documentation to request approval for any outside employment while working for the university, regardless of leave of absence status.
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How many times can I take parental leave?
Paid parental leave may be taken 2 times maximum. Unpaid parental leave has no limit.
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When do I need to submit my request?
For Unpaid Parental Leave at least 30 days prior to the expected start date. For Paid Parental Leave at least 3 months prior to the expected start date.
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Can I combine paid parental leave with unpaid parental leave?
No, choose one.
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How much paid parental leave can I take?
Up to 16 contiguous weeks. (For In–Unit Instructional Faculty-one semester)
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Can I work during paid parental leave?
No, but you must return to work for at least one year. If you want to continue working part time, consider a Reduced Work Schedule Unpaid Parental Leave.
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Why is Paid Parental Leave considered an advance of time?
As a public employer with limited funding, UCF will deduct the hours used from your remaining accrued time off balances when you separate from the university or transfer between a contract accruing annual time off and a contract not accruing annual time off.
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If I return to work for the required period, will I still owe time later?
You must return to work for one year or repay the paid parental leave within 60 days. See prior question for Paid Parental Leave time off repayment.
Contact Leave Administration
Benton Anderson
Assistant Director, Leave Administration
GET IN TOUCH 
Email: loaandworkcomp@ucf.edu
Fax: 407-882-9023