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Faculty Serious Illness
& Parental Leave

Faculty Serious Illness & Parental Leave

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This webpage answers some of the common questions about Faculty Serious Illness Leave (FSIL) & Faculty Parental Leave. To view the full policy for complete details, see the Faculty Serious Illness, Major Disability & Parental Leave policy webpage.

 

About FSIL & FPL

All permanent Fixed Term and Tenured/Tenure Track faculty upon initial appointment who are employed at least 75% of full-time.

New faculty members are eligible for this benefit upon initial appointment; there is no waiting period.

Faculty who need to request leave for a family and medical related reason must complete the online Leave Request Form through ConnectCarolina Self Service. For more information, visit the How to Request Leave page on the HR at UNC website.
Paid leave has no effect on a faculty member’s benefits. If a faculty member is placed on unpaid leave, payroll deductions for benefit premiums and retirement contributions will stop.

You have 30 days from the date you go on unpaid leave to cancel your benefits or set up monthly payment for benefit premiums through the University’s Leave Desk Billing process. If you will be on unpaid leave, email leave@unc.edu with “Leave Desk Billing” in the Subject Line prior to going on leave.

Faculty Serious Illness Leave and Faculty Parental Leave run concurrently with leave under FMLA (if applicable). Any leave taken under this policy for an FMLA-qualifying reason will count towards the employee’s FMLA entitlement if the employee is eligible for FMLA leave. All other requirements and provisions under FMLA will apply.
The type of accrued leave you may use to remain in paid status after the sixty days of paid Faculty Serious Illness Leave (FSIL) depends on the reason for leave. For more information, see “Leave Charge Options” section of the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy.

 

 

Faculty Serious Illness Leave (FSIL)

Eligible faculty may take FSIL for any qualifying family and medical leave reason:

  • A serious health condition that prevents the employee from performing the essential functions of their job.
  • Caring for their child or other dependent living in the household who has a serious health condition.
  • Caring for their spouse, domestic partner, or parent who has a serious health condition.
  • Birth of a child and to bond with the newborn within 12 months.
  • Adoption or foster-care placement of a child and to bond with the new child within 12 months.
  • Military Caregiver Leave to care for a covered service member or veteran.
  • Qualifying exigency leave to attend to qualifying activities or events when your family member is on covered active duty or called to covered active duty.

Amount

Eligible faculty will receive up to 60 calendar days of paid FSIL in a single 12-month period.

Using FSIL

This leave is designed to be used for a continuous period of leave. However, the leave may be used on an intermittent basis when authorized by the HR Leave Administration Unit.

The 60 days of FSIL coincide with the 60-day waiting period needed to qualify for Short Term Disability income replacement benefits. For more information on Short Term Disability, please contact the HR Leave Administration Unit.

 

 

Faculty Parental Leave (FPL)

Eligible faculty may take FPL for:

  • Birth of a child and to bond with the newborn within 12 months.
  • Adoption or foster-care placement of a child and to bond with the new child within 12 months.

Amount

  • Instructional faculty with teaching responsibilities are eligible for one full semester of FPL.
  • Non-instructional faculty without teaching responsibilities are eligible for 15 weeks of FPL.

If both parents work for the University: The total amount of Faculty Parental Leave to which both parents may be entitled to in connection with the birth or adoption of a child is limited to one semester or 15 weeks, whichever is applicable to the primary caregiver. Such leave shall be taken by the primary caregiver.

Is FPL paid leave?

For Nine-Month Faculty: The 15 weeks or semester of FPL is paid by your department.

For Twelve-Month Faculty: The first 60 calendar days of FPL are paid for by the department through Faculty Serious Illness Leave (if available). The remainder of your leave period is paid if you have enough accrued leave to remain in paid status.