Human Resources
Menu

Parental Leave

Johns Hopkins University is committed to helping faculty and staff members balance work life and family responsibilities through various family leave policies. The Parental Leave Policy provides faculty and staff with paid time off for activities related to the care and well-being of their newborn or newly adopted child under age 12.

Eligibility

Full-time and part-time faculty, visiting faculty, staff and bargaining unit employees who have been employed in an eligible status with continuous service for at least one year at the time of birth or placement of a child under age 12 for adoption are eligible for Parental Leave. Limited and casual faculty and staff are not eligible.

Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees are not covered under this policy, and should consult the New Child Accommodations for Full-Time Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Trainees Policy for information on family leave benefits.

About Parental Leave

Parents who meet the eligibility requirement for faculty, staff or bargaining unit are entitled to four weeks of fully paid Parental Leave. Parental Leave covers birth mothers, fathers, same-sex spouses/partners, adoptive parents of children under age 12 and parents of children born via surrogate. This leave can be can be taken in consecutive blocks of time or intermittently (in full-day increments only) within the first 12 months after the birth of a child or placement of an adopted child, based on a schedule that is prearranged with your supervisor. For eligible birth mothers, Parental Leave will begin after Birth Recovery Leave has been exhausted. Parental Leave must run concurrently with the 12-weeks of job protection under FML, if still available to the employee.

View the Family Leave for New Parents Policy for more information.

How to Request Parental Leave

Effective January 1, 2025, Lincoln Financial administers leave for all faculty, staff, and LiUNA bargaining unit members. Requests for leave prior to January 1 should go through your HR Business Partner.

  1. Before the baby is born or adopted, contact your supervisor or HR Business Partner to notify them of your request for leave.
  2. Contact Lincoln Financial Group, the plan administrator for the university at 888-246-4483 or visit MyLincolnPortal.com (registration code JHUEE) to request Parental Leave (and Family Medical Leave if applicable). This one entry point is where you can apply for FML and request Parental Leave.
  3. When the baby is born, contact Lincoln Financial Group again at 888-246-4483 to confirm the birth.
  4. Discuss with your supervisor and agree to a plan for taking continuous or intermittent leave.

Returning to Work

Here are resources that may be helpful during your return to work: