FILE: GBRIC
PARENTAL LEAVE
The Orleans Parish School Board will provide up to two (2) weeks of paid parental leave to employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care. The purpose of paid parental leave is to enable the employee to care for and bond with a newborn or newly placed child. This policy will run concurrently with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as applicable. This policy is effective for pregnancy, births, adoptions, or placements of children.
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this policy the following terminology shall apply:
Teacher means any employee who holds a valid teaching certificate or whose employment requires the holding of a teaching certificate, or any social worker, school counselor, or school psychologist who holds, as applicable, a valid professional ancillary certificate.
School employee shall mean an employee who is not a teacher.
Employee shall include teacher and school employee.
ELIGIBILITY
All regular school board employees are eligible for paid parental leave under this policy and are expected to adhere to the stated provisions as outlined. Temporary employees and interns are not eligible for paid parental leave.
NOTICE
The employee shall initially notify his or her supervisor of the need for parental leave and include the estimated timing and duration of such leave at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance, where practical.
An employee that wishes to take leave shall complete a Parental Leave Request form. The form must accompany a statement from a physician verifying the stage of pregnancy and expected dates of disability due to pregnancy.
In cases of adoption or placement of a child, legal documentation can be submitted in lieu of a physician’s statement.
LEAVE PROCESS
Eligible employees will receive a maximum of two (2) weeks of paid parental leave for pregnancy, birth, adoption, or placement of a child/children. The fact that a multiple birth, adoption or placement occurs (e.g., the birth of twins or adoption of siblings) will not increase the two week total amount of paid parental leave granted for the event.
Each week of paid parental leave is compensated at 100 percent of the employee’s regular salary. Paid parental leave will be paid on a biweekly basis on regularly scheduled pay dates.
Eligible employees can use the following available time for a new child leave:
Regular Sick Days
Paid Parental Sick Days / Family and Medical Leave Act
Extended or Accumulated Sick Days
Additional Extended Sick
Vacation Time
Unpaid Time
After the paid parental leave (and any short-term disability leave for employees giving birth) is exhausted, the balance of FMLA leave (if applicable) will be compensated through employees’ accumulated sick and vacation time. Upon exhaustion of accumulated sick and vacation time, any remaining time will be unpaid time. If a district holiday occurs while the employee is on paid parental leave, such day will be charged to holiday pay.
Each employee granted parental leave in accordance with this policy who has no remaining sick leave balance available and who has exhausted extended sick leave pursuant to policy GBRIB, Sick Leave, may also be granted up to thirty (30) days of additional extended sick leave in each six-year period of employment for personal illness relating to pregnancy, illness of an infant, or for required medical visits certified by a physician as relating to infant or maternal health
CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS
Health insurance benefits will continue to be provided during the paid parental leave under this policy at the same rate as in effect before the leave was taken regardless of length of service. Paid leave benefits will continue to accrue.
RETURN TO WORK
Prior to returning to work, the employee must provide a physician’s statement to the Department of Human Resources. In cases of adoption or placement of a child, legal documentation will suffice.
SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Upon separation or termination of employment with the School Board the employee will not be paid for any unused paid parental leave for which he or she was eligible.
Revised and retitled: September 17, 2020
Ref: 42 USC 2000e et seq. (Equal Employment Opportunities)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:1171, 17:1211, 23:334, 23:341, 23:342
Board minutes, 9-17-20
Orleans Parish School Board