AACPS does not administer a fixed period of leave that is characterized as “maternity leave.” Rather, pregnant employees are entitled to use their accrued paid leave options concurrently with FMLA/JPAL leave for prenatal care, delivery, after-care, and to care for a newborn child.

In general, the “medical” portion of the maternity leave period extends 6-8 weeks from the date that the child is delivered. The “family” portion of the leave period, which is time that a parent uses to bond with and care for a newborn child.

Certain paid leave types are limited to certain phases of maternity.

Sick leave may only be used during the “medical” portion of the leave period. Six weeks of sick leave may be used for vaginal delivery; eight weeks may be used for delivery by cesarean section. If an employee is FMLA or JPAL eligible, then FMLA or JPAL leave will run concurrently with sick leave usage from the first day of the employee’s absence. This means that if you have sick leave available, your sick balance and your FMLA/JPAL balance will be used simultaneously for each day of leave.

Employees who do not have sick leave available may use FMLA or JPAL to cover this medical period, provided that they are eligible for it. FMLA and JPAL leaves are unpaid. However, an employee who does not have sick leave available may use annual or personal business leave concurrently with FMLA/JPAL in order to be paid while on leave.

Employees who are not eligible for FMLA/JPAL, and who do not have any paid leave leave available, may be entitled to a temporary disability leave of absence. A temporary disability leave of absence has significant implications for the cost of an employee’s health coverage. Please contact your assigned specialist if you feel you need a temporary disability leave of absence.

A parent may use annual leave, personal business leave, or FMLA/JPAL leave for the “family” portion of the leave period. Sick leave cannot be used during this time. FMLA runs concurrently with paid leave types during this period, i.e., if you use annual or personal business leave during the family leave period, it will be charged against your FMLA balance.

I Am Expecting a Child

I Will Need Leave for My Pregnancy

What Type of Leave Am I Eligible for?

How Much Leave is Available to Me?

What Do I Do About Doctor's Appointments While I Am Pregnant?

What if I Get Sick While I Am Pregnant, or My Doctor Puts Me on Bedrest?

I Am a 10-month Employee. What if I Deliver My Baby During the Summer?

Paternity Leave

I Have Third Party Disability Insurance. Does This Effect the Way That I Should Use My Leave?