Printed on: 01/08/2026. Please go to policy.umn.edu for the most current version of the document.
University of Minnesota  Administrative Policy

Parental Leave for Employees

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Policy Statement

The University of Minnesota provides paid Parental Leave to eligible employees who are becoming a parent through birth, Adoption, or Surrogacy. 

Eligibility

All employees, other than student employees, who hold an active 50% appointment or more are eligible. There is no length of service requirement for this leave. Please refer to civil service rules or union contracts, if applicable, for Paid Parental Leave terms. These will supersede this policy.

Use of Paid Leave

Eligible employees who are becoming a parent through birth, Adoption, or Surrogacy can take up to six weeks of paid leave. This leave can start as early as two weeks before the due date or Adoption event, and must begin within 13 weeks of the birth or Adoption event. This leave will run concurrently with Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Minnesota Pregnancy and Parenting Leave (MPPL), leave taken for the same purpose under MN Paid Leave, and, where possible, with any other paid or unpaid leave policies. If the child stays in the hospital longer than the birth parent, this leave must begin within 13 weeks after the child leaves the hospital. This leave must be taken without interruption and is only valid during the Eligible Employee’s appointment.

Parental Leave Benefit Eligibility

While on Parental Leave, the Eligible Employee’s benefits will continue under the same terms as when they were working.

Reason for Policy

This policy implements Board of Regents Policy: Employee Work-Life and Personal Leaves.

Procedures

There are no procedures associated with this policy.

Forms/Instructions

The Leave of Absence Specialist may request supporting documentation similar to that required by other leave policies.

Appendices

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contacts

SubjectContactPhoneEmail
General Information or Procedural Assistance
  • Primary: Leave of Absence Specialist
  • Secondary: Local campus, college, or administrative unit HR administrator
  • Other (as needed): Office of Human Resources specialist or consultant  
612-624-8647; 800-756-2363[email protected]
General Information or Procedural Assistance for graduate assistant or professionals-in-training employeesGraduate Assistant Employment and Services West Bank Office Building 1300 S 2nd St, Ste 545, Minneapolis, MN 55454612-624-7070612-625-9801 (fax) Email: [email protected]
Employee BenefitsOffice of Human Resources Contact Center612-624-8647[email protected]
Responsible Individuals
Responsible Officer Policy Owner Primary Contact
  • Vice President, Office of Human Resources
  • Senior Director - Total Rewards
  • See Contacts Table above

Definitions

Adoption

Adoption of a child up to 18 years of age who is adopted through public, private, domestic, international or independent means and who is not the stepchild of the adoptive parent.

Surrogacy

A legal agreement between the intended parent(s) and a gestational carrier to carry an embryo to term as a means for the intended parent(s) to become parent(s) of a child.

Responsibilities

Employee

  • Request leave in advance, except in unusual circumstances.

Leave of Absence Specialist

  • Respond to a leave request.
  • Provide additional information with regard to other leave policies, as listed below, and other available leave options per administrative policy, governing rules, or collective bargaining agreement.
  • Ensure that parental leave is documented in the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

Related Information

History

Amended:

December 2025. Comprehensive review. Enactment by the Minnesota Legislature of the Minnesota Paid Leave Law ("Law"). The Law's implementation impacts other leave policies of the University requiring minor policy changes to promote consistency and clarity regarding the various leaves available to employees. The changes clarify that parental leave is available only to those becoming parents and that the leave will run concurrent with the unpaid Minnesota Pregnancy and Parenting Leave (Minn. Stat. sec. 181.941) as well as FMLA and MN Paid Leave when taken for bonding purposes.

Amended:

December 2022. Changes are due to OHR centralizing the leave of absence administration process.

October 2018 - Comprehensive Review. Expands the window to take parental leave for a parent from within six weeks of the event to within three months.

Effective:

April 2018 - New Policy. Provides both parents, who meet eligibility requirements, with six weeks paid leave; expands coverage to include gestational surrogacy; removes the nine-month employee eligibility requirement; and replaces the current policy: Parental Leave for Academic Employees.