Bonding Leaves (Parental/Paternal)

Bonding leaves occur when an employee is away from work for a block of time.

Employees at the University of Connecticut who meet the qualifying requirements may be eligible for state FMLA, federal FMLA and/or SEBAC Supplemental leave for:

  • The birth of a child, and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;
  • The placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement.

Factors impacting leaves vary by employment type (i.e., bargaining unit), and the University encourages employees to review all applicable information below, within collective bargaining agreements and applicable policies, and contact Human Resources as early as possible.

Leaves for employees with end date positions will not be extended beyond the end date.

  • Up to six months unpaid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child
  • Continued eligibility for state contributions toward health insurance (directly billed as needed)

Parental leaves are unpaid for Faculty titles.

Academic Assistants, Research Assistants, Research Associates and Facilities Scientists can use the following paid time entitlements toward an unpaid parental leave.

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any available amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
University By-Laws - Article XIV.C.4
AAUP Contract
Article 13.6 - Academic Assistants and Facilities Scientists
Article 19.6.I - Family/Medical Leave
Article 24.2 - Benefits (Research Assistants and Research Associates)
Megan Stimson
Telephone: (860) 486-0408
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave;
    • Holidays worked; and/or
    • Compensatory time.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Contractual parental sick leave;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave;
    • Holidays worked; and/or
    • Compensatory time.
HR Leave Administrators provide Time Coding instructions to employees and their supervisors.
UCPEA Contract
Article 6 - Vacation Leave
Article 8 - Holidays
Article 9 - Personal Leave
Article 11 - Sick Leave
Article 12 - Maternal and Parental Benefits
Article 15.4 - Leaves Without Pay
Article 18 - Compensatory Time
Bethany Rameika
Telephone: (860) 486-9519
Fax: (860) 486-0406

Parental leaves are unpaid for Faculty titles.

Academic Assistants, Research Assistants, Research Associates and Facilities Scientists can use the following paid time entitlements toward an unpaid parental leave.

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any available amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
University Policy - Benefits for Managerial and Confidential Exempt and Non-Represented Faculty
AAUP Contract
Article 13.6 - Academic Assistants and Facilities Scientists
Article 19.6.I - Family/Medical Leave
Article 24.2 - Benefits (Research Assistants and Research Associates)
Megan Stimson
Telephone: (860) 486-0408
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave;
    • Holidays worked; and/or
    • Compensatory time.

    May be eligible for CT Paid Family Leave. Additional Information can be found here.
    If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:

      Contractual parental sick leave;
      Vacation;
      Personal leave;
      Holidays worked; and/or
      Compensatory time.

HR Leave Administrators provide Time Coding instructions to employees and their supervisors.
Jack Griguoli
Telephone: (860) 486-1167
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Contractual parental sick leave;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
HR Leave Administrators provide Time Coding instructions to employees and their supervisors.
NP-2 Contract
Article 28 - Vacation
Article 29 - Sick Leave
Article 30 - Personal Leave
Article 33 - Holidays
Article 36 - Pregnancy, Maternal and Parental Leave
Jack Griguoli
Telephone: (860) 486-1167
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or 31-51kk, employees may use :
    • Contractual parental sick leave;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
HR Leave Administrators provide Time Coding instructions to employees and their supervisors.
NP-3 Contract
Article 28 - Pregnancy, Maternal, Parental and Family Leave
Article 29 - Holidays
Article 30 - Vacations and Personal Leave
Jack Griguoli
Telephone: (860) 486-1167
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Contractual parental sick leave;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
HR Leave Administrators provide Time Coding instructions to employees and their supervisors.
P-2 Contract
Article 24 - Pregnancy, Maternal and Parental Leave
Article 27 - Holidays
Article 28 - Vacations
Article 30 - Personal leave
Jack Griguoli
Telephone: (860) 486-1167
Fax: (860) 486-0406

  1. If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:
    • Sick;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
  2. If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:
    • Contractual parental sick leave;
    • Vacation;
    • Personal leave; and/or
    • Holidays worked.
Time Coding instructions are provided to employees and their supervisors by the Leave Administrator.
NP-5 Contract
Article 25 - Holidays
Article 26 - Pregnancy, Maternal and Parental Leave
Article 27 - Vacations
Article 29 - Personal Leave
Jack Griguoli
Telephone: (860) 486-1167
Fax: (860) 486-0406

A Postdoc who is a non-birth parent of a newborn or adopted child shall be granted paid leave of 15 consecutive work days to care for or bond with the child.

Leave granted shall not extend beyond the end-date of the employee's appointment.

If additional leave is requested, Postdocs can use the following paid time entitlements:

If eligible and approved for leave under Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use any amount of:

  • Sick;
  • Vacation;
  • Personal leave; and/or
  • Holidays worked.

If not eligible for Federal FMLA or State FMLA, employees may use:

  • Contractual parental sick leave;
  • Vacation;
  • Personal leave; and/or
  • Holidays worked.

May be eligible for CT Paid Family Leave. Additional Information can be found here.

Megan Stimson
Telephone: (860) 486-0408
Fax: (860) 486-0406

Under Federal FMLA

  • Employees are eligible after one year of employment and after working 1,250 hours or more in previous 12-months.
  • Upon eligibility, employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of leave during 12-month FMLA period.
  • Employees remain eligible for state contributions toward health insurance (directly billed as needed).

Under State FMLA

  • Employees are eligible after 3 months of state service
  • Up to 12 weeks of leave within a 12 month FMLA period.
  • Continued eligibility for state contributions toward health insurance (directly billed as needed)

Under SEBAC Supplemental Leave

  • Eligible as a permanent employee as defined in CT General Statute 5-196(19)
  • Begins after the exhaustion of Federal FMLA and/or State FMLA leave and exhaustion of disability leave under 46a-60(a)(7)
  • Up to 4 months of leave in a two-year period (excludes Placement of Foster children)
  • Continued eligibility for state contributions toward health insurance (directly billed as needed)

How to Apply for a Bonding Leave

Complete Employee Request and Intent to Return to Work forms to initiate the leave process. Return (email preferred) forms to your HR Leave Administrator.