Pregnancy Disability Leave
Definition
Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) occurs when an employee takes a disability leave due to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition. Pregnancy Disability Leave gives an employee the right to return to the same or similar position.
Application
Eligibility is based on information from the medical treatment provider certifying that an employee is unable to continue working due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition. An employee may be covered by PDL for up to 4 months. Typically, PDL is combined with FMLA and runs concurrently.
After the FMLA and PDL benefits have been exhausted, the employee may be eligible for parental leave of 12 additional weeks under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Therefore, an employee may be entitled to a maximum of seven (7) months of pregnancy/parental leave (4 months-PDL/FMLA and 3 months-CFRA).
Supervisor's Checklist
- Upon notice from an employee of the need for a pregnancy leave, the supervisor should provide the employee with Family and Medical Leave Forms.
- The forms should be completed by the employee and her medical treatment provider and returned to the department by the employee.
- The employee should contact Benefits & Financial Planning in Human Resources to obtain a Disability Claim packet.
- The supervisor should refer the employee to the campus payroll department to arrange personal payments of health insurance premiums while the employee is on uncovered or unpaid leave.
- The supervisor should also remind the employee to add the newborn to the employee's health plans.
MORE
Disability Benefits Claims Procedures
Disability (including Pregnancy Disability) Benefits Checklist
Pregnancy and Newborn Child Factsheet (pdf)
Family Medical Leave Act Guide
UPAY 850 Enrollment, Change, Cancellation or Opt-Out Form (to add newborn or adopted family member)