What do I need to know if I am expecting a baby and plan to take maternity leave?
Maternity leave is granted for six weeks after a normal delivery and eight weeks after a Cesarean “C” section, starting the day you deliver. Maternity leave is a paid leave if you have personal illness days in your bank and/or the wage continuation benefit.
Notify Employee Health Services (EHS) by calling (215) 400-4660. They will send you a procedure letter which will tell you step-by-step what you need to do to take maternity leave. Call the Health and Welfare Fund office and ask to speak with a coordinator so we can help you navigate the process.
If you want to take additional time after your maternity leave expires, you have the option of taking up to eighty-nine (89) calendar days of unpaid parental leave. During those 89 days, you are still covered by the SDP medical and Health and Welfare Fund and you will maintain your position at your location.
The parent who is not giving birth only has the option to take an 89 day leave. This leave is unpaid but continues medical benefits. This is called Parental Leave.
You have the right under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for up to 12 weeks of leave in a 12-month period, if you have worked 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the date of your request. Not everyone completes an FMLA application; it isn’t a requirement for a maternity leave, but a job protection in case of intermittent absences due to a medical severity. FMLA runs concurrently with an approved school district leave. What does this mean? It means if you have available paid leave (sick days or wage continuation) you will be paid for your time not working. If you have no available leave time, you have the right, if you meet the eligibility requirements, to take the FMLA leave, but it is unpaid.
During this time, it is your responsibility to notify your location or supervisor of your absence, please follow the proper call out procedures for your location. You can contact Kelly Services directly to help put your absence into the AESOP system at (855) 535-5955. When entering your absence into the AESOP system, use an 04 coding and enter the entire estimated length of time you think you will be absent. Payroll will not deduct sick days from your bank unless you have been authorized to use them by EHS.
You must submit absence cards (SEH-3) signed by your physician while you are out on sick/maternity leave. One card must be filled out and submitted for each ten (10) day period of absence. Absence cards do not need to be submitted while on parental leave because that time is unpaid.
Be sure to notify the SDP Benefits Department and the Health and Welfare Fund office within thirty (30) days of the birth to add the baby to your coverage. As a first step, you must complete and submit the application with a copy of the hospital birth record within 30 days of the birth.