This page provides important information for Passaic Public Schools employees planning to take maternity leave. It outlines the required forms, benefit options, and available state and district programs. Employees are encouraged to begin the process early by notifying the Human Resources Department and submitting the required documentation.
The employee must complete a Leave of Absence Form and provide a doctor’s note indicating the estimated due date.
All documentation should be submitted to the Human Resources Department as soon as possible. However, please ensure that the Request for a Leave of Absence form is first submitted to your Administrator for signature before forwarding it to the Division of Human Resources. Your Administrator should serve as your initial point of contact when requesting a leave of absence.
Please refer to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (commonly referred to as the “contract book”) for details regarding the time frame allowed to be out of work.
A. An employee who is pregnant should notify the Board as to the date required for this leave. This notification shall be sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of the maternity leave.
B. Maternity leaves shall be limited to any fraction of a year plus the following academic year or one full academic year only. In no event will the employer grant two (2) full academic years for maternity leave.
C. An employee may declare herself as being “disabled” during the thirty (30) calendar days immediately preceding and the thirty (30) calendar days immediately following the birth. During this period of disability, the employee may utilize accumulated sick leave if the required amount of sick leave exists in the employee's account. An employee may opt for this disability and apply for no other form of leave. In such cases, the employee may commence and terminate the disability according to the above formula with no other restrictions as to commencing and termination dates. The Board shall have the right to request and obtain a physician's certificate certifying as to the disability.
D. The employee may apply for either a maternity leave or a disability leave immediately followed by a maternity leave at any time during the academic year. The employee’s last working day shall be the starting day of the maternity leave or the starting day of the disability leave should she elect both.
E. Appropriate Maternity Leave/Family Leave/Disability Forms shall be developed by the employer for completion by the employee’s attending physician.
F. Upon return, the employee will be placed on the same step and guide in effect when her leave commenced, with all benefits previously accrued. If the employee served five (5) full calendar months prior to executing her leave option, she will be placed on the next higher step upon returning at the start of or during the following school year.
G. The above outlined procedure shall apply for natural births as well as for adoption by both male and female employees. Notification of maternity leave in the case of adoption shall be as soon as the parent takes custody of the child. Disability leaves shall not be granted in the case of adoption or for male applicants.
H. For employees who request concurrent disability and maternity leaves, the vacancy occurs with the starting date of the disability leave. The disabled employee may be replaced as soon as practicable with a less than one (1) year contract employee.
Employees may apply for Short Term Disability through Madison National Disability (not the State’s disability program).
Disability benefits are typically:
6 weeks for a natural birth
8 weeks for a C-section
Please contact our Health Benefits Department for more information, claim forms, and filing instructions.
After disability leave ends, employees may apply for Bonding Time under the New Jersey Family Leave Act (NJFLA).
Eligibility: Up to 12 consecutive weeks within one year of the baby’s birth.
Pay: The State pays 85% of the employee’s salary during this period.
Intermittent Bonding Time: Employees who choose intermittent bonding may take up to 8 weeks, as permitted by the State.
To apply or learn more, visit the NJ Family Leave Insurance website.
During any period of unpaid leave from the District, employees are responsible for paying their EBC (Health Insurance) premiums directly.
You will receive a letter with payment arrangements, total amounts due, and deadlines, from the Health Benefits Department.
Submit all forms and documentation to Human Resources before the start of your leave to prevent delays in pay or benefits.
Review your employee contract for detailed information regarding allowable leave time.
If you plan to extend your leave, you must notify Human Resources and provide any necessary documentation.
Our office hours are Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, or by appointment.
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