A leave of absence without pay of up to 6 months may be granted to an employee following the birth of an employee's child and after her physician has declared her able to return to work or following the adoption or foster care placement of a child.  Child Care Leave combined with Pregnancy Leave cannot exceed 6 months in a "leave year."

Entitlement to Child Care Leave will begin on the date of birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child and will end on the last day of the twelfth month following the beginning entitlement date.  Child Care Leave is available to both female and male employees.

If the employee fails to return to work at the university on or before the expiration of the Child Care Leave, the employee will be considered to have resigned from the university.  If the employee fails to return to work at the university at the end of the leave and work for a period of time equal to the length of the leave, he or she must repay the portion of the benefit costs paid by the university during the Child Care Leave.

To the extent that the Child Care Leave is also a Family and Medical Leave qualifying leave, it will run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave.  If sick leave is exhausted, the employee may elect to use accrued paid vacation during Child Care Leave.  Benefit plans may be continued during a Child Care Leave.  For eligibility information and to request leave of absence forms, please contact Diane Drake in University Human Resource Services at 285-1036 or lddrake@bsu.edu.