Maternity Benefit
Human Resources Policy: 30.026
Employee Maternity Pay
Eligible staff members may be entitled to full pay for up to six weeks. This benefit is available once every 12 months.
Eligibility Requirements for Employee Maternity Pay
Female staff working at least 975 hours per year who have completed at least four years of continuous service on the regular payroll as of the date the child is born and who give birth are eligible. This benefit is available to adoptive mothers who have completed at least four years of continuous service on the regular payroll as of the date of placement for adoption. It is also available to the certified primary caregiver in a same-sex domestic partnership, regardless of gender, after Declaration of Domestic Partnership and Certificate of Residency forms have been submitted.
General Guidelines for Employee Maternity Pay
Employee Maternity Pay begins on the date of the birth of the child or date of adoption of a child age 16 years or younger. A completed Leave Request form must be submitted prior to receiving Employee Maternity Pay. In addition, for a natural birth, a Physician's Statement must be received within 15 days of the leave request. For an adoption, proof of the placement for adoption must be received within 15 days of the leave request. If both partners in a same-sex domestic partnership work at Brown and meet the eligibility requirements, only one is eligible to receive the maternity benefit, at the couple's election.
Coordination of Employee Maternity Pay with Other Pay and Benefits
Staff members receiving Employee Maternity Pay may not simultaneously receive sick or vacation time; however, sick and vacation time will continue to accrue.
This six week leave will count toward any FMLA entitlement and run concurrently with eligible FMLA/RIPFML. Please see HR policy 20.043 to determine any FMLA/RIPFML eligibility.
This policy does not affect an employee's eligibility for Rhode Island Temporary Disability Insurance (RITDI).
Departmental Maternity Reimbursement
Departments may be reimbursed for the cost of hiring replacement persons, if needed, to cover the absent staff member's duties. Departments may be reimbursed for up to six weeks of the actual cost of a replacement (salary plus the fringe benefit rate). This reimbursement will not exceed six weeks of the regular staff member's base pay (cost of salary without the fringe benefit rate); is restricted to work performed within the six weeks following the date the child is born or adopted; and is only available to a department when the staff member on leave is eligible for Maternity Pay. If the regular staff member chooses to extend the leave beyond six weeks, the department assumes all financial responsibility for any replacements.
The Departmental Maternity Reimbursement is processed by the Benefits Office . Departments must complete and submit the Maternity Benefit Reimbursement Form to the Benefits Office within 30 days of the end of the six week period following the birth or adoption of the child.