Indiana University to offer paid parental leave for staff members

President Michael McRobbie made the announcement Friday during the IU Trustees meeting in Richmond.

Beginning July 1, all staff employees working at least 30 hours a week who have been continuously employed in a benefits-eligible position for at least one year prior to the birth or adoption of a child will be eligible for six weeks of paid leave.

The leave will be available to both mothers and fathers whose child is born or adopted after July 1, 2017. If both parents are eligible IU staff members, they are both still entitled to six weeks of paid parental leave.

Staff employees do not have to take all six weeks at once, but the time will expire six months after birth or adoption. Up to two parental leaves can be used by staff employees over the course of their career at IU.

Paid parental leave for birth or adoption is already part of the benefits package for full-time IU faculty.

This new parental leave will not cut into any other paid leave employees have already earned, such as paid time off or sick days, McRobbie said. If an eligible employee also meets the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act, parental leave will run at the same time.