Parental Care FAQ

What is a Parental Leave?

A Parental Leave provides a parent time off to bond with his or her child. A mother may take a Parental Leave following a Maternity Leave.

Parental Leave runs concurrent with any FMLA entitlement.
Am I eligible for Parental Leave?

You may be eligible for a Parental Leave under Civil Service Commission Rules if you are a non-Exclusively Represented Employee (NERE) or your collective bargaining agreement (CBA) if you can provide proof of parentage.

Proof of parentage includes:

Birth certificate

Hospital certificate of birth

Letter from attending physician

Affidavit of parentage

Adoption documentation

Foster care documentation

Non-represented employees (NERE) will also need to have completed 2,080 hours of satisfactory service to be eligible for a Parental Leave.

If you are covered by a collective bargaining agreement you must have completed the number of satisfactory service hours shown below:

UAW 1,040 hours

AFSCME 2,080 hours*

MSEA 2,080 hours*

MPE/SEIU HSS 2,080 hours*

MPE/SEIU S&E 2,080 hours*

MPE/SEIU Tech 2,080 hours*

*and successful completion of your initial probationary period.

For service requirements for leave qualifying under FMLA, see the question "Am I eligible for the entitlements under the Family Medical leave Act (FMLA)?" below.
How do I apply for a Parental Leave?

To apply for a Parental Leave, you must:

Complete and submit the Leave of Absence Application form to the Disability Management Office (DMO).
Submit proof of birth or court documentation verifying the adoption or placement of the child to the DMO.
Completed forms may be faxed or mailed to the DMO:

Fax: (517) 241-9926
Mail: Disability Management, PO BOX 30002, Lansing, MI 48909
Email: MCSC-DMO@michigan.gov

Follow your department’s normal timekeeping procedures until the DMO has approved your leave. You are encouraged to notify your supervisor of your request for a Parental Leave.
DMO will:
Email your supervisor and HR office of your request for leave.
Mail you a letter providing your available FMLA entitlement.
Mail you a letter of approval or denial of the leave request.
If Parental Leave immediately follows your maternity leave, you must submit a medical release from your physician stating that you are released to return to work without restriction prior to starting the Parental Leave.

If you need to start your leave earlier than anticipated, you should contact the DMO as soon as practicably possible at 877-443-6362, option 2.

Untimely notice or incomplete forms may cause a delay in the processing of your leave of absence.
What is considered proof of parentage?

Proof of parentage can be a copy of your child’s official birth certificate, hospital certificate of birth, letter from the attending physician, or legal document stating that you are the legal parent or guardian of the child (affidavit of parentage, adoption or foster care documentation).

How much time am I entitled to use while on Parental Leave?

May I take a Parental Leave on an Intermittent Leave or a Reduced Schedule Leave?

No. Intermittent or Reduced Schedule Leave is not permitted while on Parental Leave.
Does my Parental Leave have to be taken as one continuous period of time?

Yes. Parental Leave must be taken as one continuous period of time.
May I use sick leave during my Parental Leave?

No. Sick leave cannot be used during a Parental Leave.
May I use my sick leave before taking a Parental Leave?

Two collective bargaining unit agreements have provisions for sick leave to be used before the beginning of a Parental Leave as follows:

MPE/SEIU S&E:

Upon the birth of their child, or adoption of a newborn or special needs child, an employee may certify the need to use up to two weeks of sick leave prior to the beginning of a maternity/paternity leave.

MPE/SEIU TECH:

Upon birth of their child, an employee may certify the need to use up to two weeks of sick leave prior to the beginning of any Parental Leave.

If you have questions on Parental Leave entitlements, review your collective bargaining agreement or contact the Disability Management Office (DMO) by phone at 877-443-6362, option 2. The DMO is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
May a Parental Leave be taken at any time following the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child?

No. A Parental Leave must be taken within 12 months following the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
May my state-employed spouse and I take a Parental Leave at the same time?

Yes,
I am eligible for FMLA. Does time off for a Parental Leave count against my entitlement?

Yes. Parental Leave counts against FMLA entitlement.
Does FMLA give me additional time off for Parental Leave?

No. Any FMLA Parental Leave you take runs concurrently with a Parental Leave.
What should I do if I have submitted my paperwork to the DMO and I need to change the start date of my leave?

Submit a revised application, Application for Leave of Absence, to the Disability Management Office (DMO) with the updated leave start date and updated estimated return-to-work date.
May I take Parental Leave if I am ineligible for FMLA?

Yes. Non-FMLA, unpaid Parental Leave may be allowed under the provisions of the Civil Service Rules for non-represented employees (NERE) and under the collective bargaining agreements for represented employees.

For specific information on unpaid Parental Leave, refer to your collective bargaining agreement, or the Civil Service Rules and Regulations or contact the Disability Management Office (DMO).

Contact the DMO by phone at 877-443-6362, option 2. The DMO is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How may I extend my Parental Leave?

A Parental Leave may be extended by submitting a written request and revised application, Application for Leave of Absence, to the Disability Management Office (DMO). The written request should include the end date of the current approved Parental Leave and the requested extension date. Once approved, notify your supervisor of your leave extension.
What steps must be taken to return to work from Parental Leave?

To return to work from Parental Leave, you must notify the Disability Management Office (DMO) at least five days prior to your return to work. Failure to notify the DMO may result in a delay of your status change and timely processing of your first paycheck.
What steps must I take if I would like to return to work before my Parental Leave ends?

You may return from your Parental Leave early by submitting a revised return date in writing to the Disability Management Office (DMO) at least five days prior to your return. You must also notify your supervisor of your new return-to-work date. Failure to notify the DMO may delay your status change and timely processing of your first paycheck.
Does Long Term Disability (LTD) cover a Parental Leave?

No. LTD does not cover a Parental Leave.
Am I eligible for the entitlements under the Family Medical leave Act (FMLA)?

To be eligible for FMLA, you must have 12 months of employment with the State of Michigan (does not need to be consecutive) and you must have physically worked 1,250 hours within the previous 12 months.

For questions on FMLA eligibility, contact the Disability Management Office (DMO) by phone at 877-443-6362, option 2. The DMO is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
How do I continue my health, dental, vision, and life insurances while on a Parental Leave if I am covered under FMLA?

If you substitute paid leave credits for unpaid FMLA, your health, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance premiums will continue to be deducted from your paycheck while you remain on payroll.

If you exhaust or do not use leave credits while covered under FMLA, your health, dental, and vision insurances will continue until your FMLA ends.

Once you are no longer covered under FMLA, the Employee Benefits Division (EBD) will mail you a (CS-1820) Application to Continue Insurances that includes the plans (health, dental, vision, and life) that are eligible for continuation. You must select the insurance plans you wish to continue and return the application to EBD.

EBD will mail you an invoice. You will be responsible for making a direct payment for coverage to continue.
If you have questions on the Application to Continue Insurances form (CS-1820), contact EBD at 1-800-505-5011.
How do I continue my health, dental, vision, and life insurances while on a Parental Leave if I am not covered under FMLA?

Once you are no longer receiving a paycheck, the Employee Benefits Division (EBD) will mail you a (CS-1820) Application to Continue Insurance that includes the plans (health, dental, vision, and life) that are eligible for continuation. You must select the insurance plans you wish to continue and return the application to EBD.

EBD will mail an invoice and you will be responsible for making a direct payment for coverage to continue
If you have questions on the Application to Continue Insurances form (CS-1820), contact EBD at 1-800-505-5011.
May I use annual leave or other leave credits during my Parental Leave?

No, parental leave is an unpaid leave of absence. If you are eligible for FMLA Parental Leave, you may use annual leave credits.

If you have questions on eligibility for FMLA Parental Leave contact the Disability Management Office (DMO) at 877-443-6362, option 2.
How do I enter my time in SIGMA while on an FMLA Parental Leave?

Advise your supervisor on how you want your time entered. Be precise on whether you are using some or all of your annual or other available leave credits. Use of sick leave is not allowed while on Parental Leave.

If you are eligible for FMLA, your supervisor will see that your hours are entered and coded accurately as follows:
FMAL - Annual leave time
FMBL - Bank leave time
FMCM - Comp time
FMHL - Holiday time
FMLA - Unpaid time
What do I need to tell my supervisor about my Parental Leave?

It is your responsibility to follow normal call-in and absence reporting procedures until your parental leave has been approved.

The Disability Management Office (DMO) will notify you and your supervisor via mail or email when a determination has been made on your leave request and subsequent extensions.
How do I contact the Disability Management Office (DMO)?

The DMO is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You may contact them by phone at (877) 443-6362 (Select #2). You may also fax documentation to (517) 241-9926.

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NERE	Up to six months.
AFSCME	Up to six months.
MSEA	Up to six months.
MPE/SEIU HSS	Up to one year with the option of up to an additional one year extension.
MPE/SEIU S&E	Up to six months.
MPE/SEIU TECH	Up to six months.
UAW	Up to six months.