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New Child Leave (i.e., Parental Leave)

Description

The University of Pennsylvania provides paid Parental (New Child) Leave to support postdoctoral researchers and fellows following the birth or adoption of a child. This benefit allows postdocs to take time away from work while continuing to receive their regular pay and benefits, supporting work-life balance and family well-being.

Key Features

Paid leave:
Postdoctoral trainees may receive up to 60 calendar days of paid leave per appointment year for the birth or adoption of a child. This benefit applies to all benefits-eligible postdocs.

Who may use this leave:
Either parent may use New Child Leave. This includes eligible Postdoctoral Researchers, Postdoctoral Fellows, and NRSA Postdoctoral Fellows.

When leave may begin:
The leave does not have to begin on the exact date of the child’s birth or adoption. Postdoctoral trainees should discuss timing with their faculty mentor and department.

Using leave in more than one part:
The 60 calendar days may be divided into more than one leave period if approved by the department. All leave should generally be used within the same appointment year. Postdocs should discuss scheduling and coverage with their faculty mentor or department.

Written request:
Postdoctoral trainees should submit the leave request in writing. The request should include the preferred start date, end date, and any planned use of sick leave or vacation days.

Approval:
Faculty mentors may not deny a request to use New Child Leave without authorization from the appropriate administrative office.

Extending leave:
Unused sick leave or vacation days may be used, with approval, to extend the leave period. Additional New Child Leave may also be approved at the faculty mentor’s discretion.

What to Do First

Postdoctoral trainees planning to request New Child Leave should:

  • Talk with their faculty mentor as early as possible;
  • Contact their department or school administrator for local leave procedures;
  • Submit the leave request in writing;
  • Contact Penn Human Resources if they may also need Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, review;
  • Contact International Student and Scholar Services, or ISSS, if they are in J-1 or another visa status.

When New Child Leave and FMLA both apply, the two leave periods may run at the same time.

Foreign National Postdoctoral Trainees

Foreign National postdoctoral trainees are eligible for New Child Leave.

Foreign National postdoctoral trainees in J-1 status should contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) before the start of leave. ISSS can help confirm whether the leave affects visa status, required records, or sponsorship.

To remain under Penn J-1 sponsorship, postdoctoral trainees must continue to receive pay and medical benefits during the leave period. They may also need to follow other J-1 program requirements.

They must also remain home with the child and may not engage in remote work for Penn or any other entity during the leave period

Foreign National postdoctoral trainees should not finalize leave plans until they have spoken with their department and, when applicable, ISSS.

Postdoctoral trainees supported by external funding should check whether their sponsor has additional leave rules.

Sponsor rules may affect how leave is reported, whether sponsor approval is required, and whether additional funding or flexibility may be available.

For NIH-supported trainees and fellows, NIH provides family-friendly guidance related to parental leave, childcare costs for eligible NRSA-supported trainees and fellows, and other support mechanisms.

For NSF-supported researchers, departments should review current NSF guidance to determine whether supplemental funding or family-support flexibility may be available.

Postdoctoral trainees should work with their faculty mentor, department administrator, and school or sponsored programs office before finalizing leave plans.

Coordination with Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)

The University’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth or adoption of a child for members of the university community who have been employed for at least 12 months and have worked 1,250 hours in the year prior to the request.

Eligible postdocs may take paid Parental (New Child) Leave concurrently with FMLA during the first 12 weeks following the birth or adoption of a child (if FMLA time is available) or at any time within the first 12 months after the event. When taken concurrently, the 60 days of paid parental leave count toward the FMLA period.

Postdocs who wish to take paid parental leave outside of the FMLA period (after the first 12 weeks) must request and receive approval from their faculty mentor or department chair in advance, similar to PTO scheduling. Departments are encouraged to be flexible in approving requests made after the initial 12-week period.

Submitting an FMLA Leave Request

Postdocs can learn more and submit their FMLA leave request directly through Penn Human Resources. Visit: Requesting a Leave of Absence – Penn HR

For complete policy details, postdoctoral trainees should review the official University policy published in the Almanac, Vol. 69, No. 37: Penn’s Postdoctoral Leave Policy.

View Penn Postdoctoral Leave Policy