Pursuant to Policy 6-309, Academic Staff, Educational Trainees, Postdoctoral Fellows and Medical House staff, and Rule 6-309A, Postdoctoral Fellows Parental Leave, eligible University Postdoctoral Fellows may receive Parental Leave Benefits with full pay for a period of up to a total of eight (8) weeks to care for a child born, adopted, or fostered on July 1, 2022, or after.  The full Rule 6-309A, Postdoctoral Fellows parental Leave, can be found at https://regulations.utah.edu/academics/rules/r6-309a.php.

For additional information, please review the Frequency Asked Questions for Postdoctoral Fellows parental leave.

HIGHLIGHTS OF POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS PARENTAL LEAVE

This rule establishes and governs parental leave benefits the University provides for the birth, foster placement, or adoption of children by Postdoctoral Fellows in all academic units. 

The Postdoc may work part-time during some or all of the parental leave of absence, in which case the parental leave of absence may extend beyond eight calendar weeks; however, the paid leave time under this rule will be limited to the equivalent of eight weeks total.

Eligible Postdoctoral Fellows should apply for Parental Leave at least 12 weeks before the leave is expected to begin or as soon as reasonably possible before an adoption or foster placement.

Parental leave benefits are not available to a Postdoctoral Fellow who does not become the legal parent of the Child following birth. In such cases, the person who gives birth may be eligible for benefits under other University regulations regarding health-related leave and the Family Medical Leave Act.

The Postdoctoral Fellow and the Postdoctoral Fellow’s faculty advisor shall enter into a written agreement that describes the Postdoctoral Fellow’s responsibilities and how the Postdoctoral Fellow will fulfill those responsibilities following a parental leave of absence, including the total length of the Postdoctoral Fellow’s leave and whether the Postdoctoral Fellow will have a period of part-time work during the parental leave.

Under certain circumstances, externally funded postdoctoral fellowships may require a formal notification and approval from the funding agency for an extension beyond a standard duration, as required by the terms of the followship award.

At the conclusion of a paid parental leave taken under this rule, a Postdoctoral Fellow has the right to return to their position and resume employment with the same rate of pay and benefits as would have been applicable if the Postdoctoral Fellow had not taken the parental leave. Failure to resume the duties of the position may result in the termination of employment and the loss of pay and benefits.

A paid parental leave of absence (including both Disability Leave Benefits and Caregiving Leave Benefits) taken under this rule runs concurrently with leave available under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and does not extend or defer FMLA leave.

The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs will forward any Postdoctoral Fellow’s Parental Leave requests to HR Absence Management Team for FMLA consideration.

REQUESTING POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW PARENTAL LEAVE

Postdocs should complete the Postdoctoral Fellows Parental Leave form.  Completed forms should be submitted to the postdoc_parental_leave@utah.edu at least 90-days before the anticipated birth or as soon as reasonably possible before adoption or foster placement.

Postdoctoral Parental Leave Request form (Form)

Instructions for Postdoctoral Parental Leave Form (Instructions)

Postdoctoral Parental Leave FAQs (Q&A)