Coming July 1: New family-friendly options for UC faculty and staff

TO: Campus Community

 FR: Cindy Doherty, Director, Academic Personnel

       Lisa Romero, Interim Director, Human Resources 

 RE: Coming July 1: New family-friendly options for UC faculty and staff

After a thorough review by faculty, staff and key stakeholders across UC, the Pay for Family Care and Bonding (PFCB) program has been approved by President Michael V. Drake, M.D., and will be available as of July 1, 2021. Also, effective July 1, UC’s new Adoption Assistance Plan will reimburse faculty and staff who are expanding their families through adoption for some of their related expenses. 

 Pay For Family Care and Bonding

UC’s Family and Medical Leave (FML) provides job protection when employees need time off for a number of reasons, consistent with federal and state law. The PFCB program gives employees the option to replace some of the income they would otherwise lose during their approved leave. Employees who are on a qualifying FML who opt to receive PFCB can receive 70% of their eligible earnings for up to eight workweeks per calendar year.

To qualify, the Family and Medical Leave must be taken in a block of one workweek or more, for any of the following qualifying reasons:

·Caring for a family member with a serious health condition

·Bonding with a new child

·Military Caregiver Leave

·Qualifying Exigency Leave

PFCB is not an option when FML is taken for an employee’s own serious health condition or pregnancy disability.

UC’s Adoption Assistance Plan

UC’s Adoption Assistance Plan reimburses those who are eligible (faculty and staff with Full, Mid-Level or Core benefits) for up to $5,000 of expenses related to adoption. There’s no need to enroll, and all expenses for the Plan are paid by the University.

 As employees go through the adoption process, they keep receipts for eligible expenses such as attorney fees and court costs, travel expenses, counseling fees and home suitability study fees. After the adoption is final, employees work with WEX, the plan administrator, to verify the adoption and submit claims for reimbursement.

You can learn more by visiting UCnet’s Pay for Family Care and Bonding page and Adoption Assistance Program page, UC’s fact sheets and other resources will be updated to reflect our new programs by July 1.

Questions related to staff leaves and the PFCB option be submitted to HR ServiceNow:  Human Resources ServiceNow => Login => Leave Administration.

Questions related to academic leaves and the PFCB option for pay may be directed to  ap-leave@ucsb.edu.