Pregnancy & Parental Leave
If you are working and expecting a child or planning a family, you need to know your rights under the Massachusetts Parental Leave Law (MPLL), the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) and the state Small Necessities Leave Act (SNLA). You also may have rights under the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the state’s antidiscrimination laws and your collective bargaining agreement. To the extent that any of these statutory and contractual provisions address the same subject or are in conflict, you are entitled to the most generous of the benefits provided.
PARENTAL LEAVE CONTRACT LANGUAGE
1. Parental leave shall be granted to all bargaining unit members in compliance with Massachusetts Parental Leave Act (MPLA) (MGL c. 149 s. 105D) or the federal Family Medical Leave Act (as applicable).
2. Employees taking parental leave will be granted the following paid leave benefits prior to accessing any other paid leave benefits in the CBA:
a. For calculation of this paid benefit, the twelve weeks under this policy shall commence upon the arrival of the child or birth of the child.
B. Up to 20 days, on consecutive workdays, not from sick time.
c. Up to an additional eight (8) weeks may be taken, to be deducted from accumulated sick leave under Article XIII, Sick Leave, of this Agreement
d. If both parents are employees of the Watertown Public Schools, the members will be entitled to a total of 12 twelve weeks combined between the two members.
e. The salary is prorated for less than full time employees
f. The employee must be employed for a minimum of three (3) months to be eligible for this benefit.
Please Download the Sample Parental Leave Sample Letters