
Whether you’re expecting a baby or welcoming a child through adoption, JHU wants to help get your family off to a happy, healthy start.
We offer two types of paid parental leave that can help you recover from childbirth and spend precious time with your new addition – birth recovery leave and parental leave.
These programs offer fully paid time off for full- or part-time faculty, staff, and bargaining unit employees who’ve been employed at JHU for at least a year. Combined, they offer up to 10 weeks of paid leave for a new parent giving birth.
Explore this page and view the Family Leave for New Parents FAQ for more information.
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 are eligible for Family Leave for New Parents. 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 for information on family leave benefits.

Navigate every step of leave with the PERKY Leave digital tool by Lincoln Financial Group
Explore leave options for your state and situation, see how they may interact, and prepare for time away from work.
Learn more | Use PERKY now
Birth Recovery Leave
Parents who give birth and who meet the eligibility requirements are entitled to six weeks of fully-paid leave following the birth of a child. This leave may be extended based on medical necessity as determined by Lincoln Financial, and will run concurrently with the 12-weeks of job protection under FML, if still available to the employee.
Birth Recovery Leave applies only to parents who give birth, and must be taken immediately upon the birth of a child. Short-term disability benefits paid by Lincoln Financial run concurrently with Birth Recovery Leave.
How to Prepare for Birth Recovery Leave
Use the PERKY Leave Tool to explore leave options for your state and situation, see how they may interact, and prepare for time away from work.
How to Request Birth Recovery Leave
- How to start a claim with Lincoln (flyer)
- Visit MyLincolnPortal to check the status of a claim.
- Call 888-246-4483 to speak with a representative.
- Before the baby is born, contact your supervisor or HR Business Partner to notify them of your leave.
- Contact Lincoln Financial Group, the plan administrator for the university at 888-246-4483 or visit MyLincolnPortal.com (registration code JHUEE) to request Birth Recovery Leave (and Family Medical Leave if applicable). If you have elected Short-Term Disability (STD) coverage, this one entry point is where you can apply for STD, FML, and request Birth Recovery Leave.
- Download a copy of the authorization form and give it to your treating physician. This will enable your physician to communicate with Lincoln.
- When the baby is born, contact Lincoln Financial Group again at 888-246-4483 to confirm the birth.
How to Return from Birth Recovery Leave
It is important to prepare for a smooth return to work. You should contact your supervisor or department HR representative as soon as possible to inform them of your intent to return to work. You must provide a minimum of 2 days notice of your readiness to return. Additionally, if you are returning to work from a continuous leave for your own health condition, you must be cleared by Occupational Health Services (OHS) and provide a copy of your clearance form to your supervisor.
If you are unable to return to work after 12 weeks of approved FML leave, you must contact the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) to request an extension or accommodation at least 15 days prior to the expiration of your approved FML. You can reach the OIE at 410-516-8075 or [email protected].
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.
How to Prepare for Parental Leave
Use the PERKY Leave Tool to explore leave options for your state and situation, see how they may interact, and prepare for time away from work.
How to Request Parental Leave
- How to start a claim with Lincoln (flyer)
- Visit MyLincolnPortal to check the status of a claim.
- Call 888-246-4483 to speak with a representative.
- Before the baby is born or adopted, contact your supervisor or HR Business Partner to notify them of your request for leave.
- Contact Lincoln Financial Group, the plan administrator for the university at 888-246-4483 or visit MyLincolnPortal (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.
- When the baby is born, contact Lincoln Financial Group again at 888-246-4483 to confirm the birth.
- Discuss with your supervisor and agree to a plan for taking continuous or intermittent leave.
Resources for Returning to Work
- Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP) offers free assistance with emotional support and daily life needs, including finding child and elder care, resources for household help, and legal and financial consultation.
- The Hopkins Village: New Parent Back-to-Work Networking Group meets the first Thursday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. Access the flyer | Register here
- Resources for new parents, including lactation support
- Worklife Resources and Support for Returning to Work After Parental Leave
Department HR/Administrator Resources
Family Leave Process Flowchart
HR/Payroll Shared Services provides the following guidance on employment actions and time entry related to leave:
- Navigating Employment Actions
- Employment Action: Leave of Absence/Return from LOA
- Substitute Approvers
- JHU Attendance Absence Codes
The JHU Leave Team provides assistance with E210 and payroll statuses. Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.