Northwestern College to offer paid parental leave

Northwestern College has established a new policy offering six weeks of paid parental leave to full-time and three-quarter time employees upon the birth or adoption of a child.

The benefit is available after 12 months of employment and can be used by the birth mother, birth father, adoptive parents or an employee acting in place of a parent.

“Northwestern is offering paid parental leave as a result of requests from faculty and staff to offer a benefit beyond what is available under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which is government-mandated but not required to be paid,” says Deb Sandbulte, Northwestern’s director of human resources. “With increasing costs of health coverage and the expenses of adopting a child, it’s one more way we as an institution can support our families.”

Northwestern’s paid parental leave will run concurrently with FMLA guidelines, with an additional six weeks available under provisions of the FMLA policy. The paid leave has no effect on employment at Northwestern, and will not adversely affect continuous employment, seniority, status, tenure or promotion decisions, or benefit eligibility. All employee benefits will continue to remain in effect, as well as previously established contributions to retirement plans.

“A few colleges in Iowa do offer paid maternity leave, but having a parental leave benefit gives fathers the same opportunity to bond with the child,” says Sandbulte. “Offering equal parental leave benefits to dads, moms and parents who adopt sends a clear message that we value all families.”

Earlier this fall, Northwestern College was recognized as an adoption-friendly workplace for the sixth year in a row by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The college offers up to $2,000 in financial assistance per adopted child to faculty and staff, with additional reimbursement of $1,000 for the adoption of a special needs child. Employees are also given an additional seven days of paid leave to bond with the child.