Parental Leave

Eligibility

Under Minnesota state law, all employees are eligible for job protected, unpaid*, Parental Leave immediately upon hire regardless of length of service and hours. This is offered to both the birthing and non-birthing parent. In the event that both parents are employed by Macalester College, each parent is entitled to 12 weeks of FMLA and Minnesota Parental Leave for the birth, adoption, or placement of a child.

Leave Details

Pay

*Under FMLA and Minnesota state law, parental leave is unpaid, but Macalester’s policy is to provide a fully-paid parental leave to staff and faculty that have an assigned FTE of 0.50 or greater.

• Staff employees with an FTE of 0.50 FTE and above will receive 12-weeks of fully paid parental leave equivalent to their regular working schedule.
• Staff employees with an FTE of 0.49 FTE and below are not eligible to receive paid parental leave.
• Faculty employees with an FTE of 0.50 – 0.74 receive a 1-course release concurrent with 12-weeks of fully paid parental leave
• Faculty employees with an FTE of 0.75 – 1.00 receive a 2-course release concurrent with 12-weeks of fully paid parental leave
• Faculty employees with an FTE of 0.49 and below are not eligible to receive paid parental leave

When a Macalester designated holiday falls during an employee’s FMLA leave of absence, the employee will receive the holiday pay but that day(s) will count towards the employee’s FMLA and parental leave allotment of hours. If an employee is on an intermittent leave of absence, the employee must work the day prior and after the holiday to not have the holiday’s counts towards FMLA.

Duration

The 12-week leave must occur within 12-months of the birth, adoption, or placement and may be used continuously or intermittently. The fact that a multiple birth, adoption or placement occurs (e.g., the birth of twins or adoption of siblings) does not increase the total amount of paid parental leave granted for that event. The adoption of a new spouse’s child is excluded from this policy. 

Benefits

If an employee is approved for Parental Leave they will continue to have benefit coverage in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Insurance premiums, which are collected through payroll deductions will continue when the employee is receiving pay. If the employee is on an approved Parental Leave and is not receiving pay, they will owe Macalester for benefits employee contributions which will be coordinated at the time the approved leave of absence has ended.

Job Protection

Employees job are held for up to 12 weeks in any 12-month period in accordance with FMLA and Minnesota state law. In the case of intermittent leave or leave taken through a reduced work schedule, the job may be held for the time equivalent to 12 weeks of their regular work schedule.