Paid Parental Leave Policy

I. Purpose of policy

This policy establishes paid parental leave for employees of Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic (hereinafter referred to as “D-H”).

II. Policy scope

This policy applies to the following D-H employees:

Employees Covered individuals
X Physicians, fellows, and residents   Volunteers
X Associate providers   Travelers
X Non-Provider staff   Students
  Temporary staff   Externs
  Per Diem/PRN staff   Vendors
  Geisel (credentialed/privileged)   Geisel (non-credentialed/non-privileged)
  Dartmouth College (credentialed/privileged)    Dartmouth College (non-credentialed/non-privileged)

Nothing in this policy provides any contractual rights regarding employee benefits, nor does anything in this policy alter or modify the employment-at-will relationship between D-H and its employees.

III. Definitions

Eligible Employee: A benefit-eligible employee who is a natural parent, same-sex partner, or adoptive parent following the birth or adoption of a child that is under the age of 18. An employee who adopts a spouse or partner’s child(ren) is not considered an Eligible Employee for purposes of this policy.

Parental Leave: A period of paid leave of absence (that does not reduce an employee’s earned time balance) for the purpose of providing Eligible Employees additional flexibility and time to bond with a newborn or with a newly adopted child under the age of 18.

IV. Policy statement

In order to assist and support new parents in balancing work and family, D-H provides Eligible Employees with a period of Parental Leave for activities related to the bonding, care, and well-being of their newborn or newly adopted child(ren).

  1. Parental Leave Entitlement
    • D-H will provide up to two (2) consecutive weeks of Parental Leave for all Eligible Employees following the birth or adoption of a child. This policy shall only apply to births or adoptions that occur on or after January 1, 2019.
    • Parental Leave shall be paid based upon the Eligible Employee’s base salary determined by the employee’s regularly scheduled work hours.
  2. Eligibility Requirements
    • Eligible Employees may only utilize this benefit after thirty (30) days of employment.
    • In the event that both parents/partners of a child are Eligible Employees, both parents/partners are eligible to receive Parental Leave under the terms of this policy.
  3. Timing of Leave and Amount of Leave
    • Eligible Employees must take Parental Leave during the first twelve (12) months following the birth or adoption of a child.
    • Eligible Employees may utilize one term of Parental Leave per birth or adoption event. For purposes of this policy, an event is defined as a delivery or adoption of a child(ren). For example, if an Eligible Employee has a delivery of multiple newborns or adopts multiple children at the same time, the employee would be eligible for one term of Parental Leave for that event.
  4. Coordination with Other Statutes
    • Parental Leave taken under this policy shall run concurrently with leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or any other state or local law that may provide greater family and medical leave rights than those provided by federal law. This means that, for example, when Parental Leave taken under this policy falls under the definition of circumstances qualifying for leave under the FMLA, the Parental Leave will be counted against the employee’s 12-week FMLA leave entitlement. Employees should refer to D-H’s Leave Policy – Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) and Servicemember Leave (Policy ID 6593) for further guidance and information on the FMLA.
    • In all circumstances in which federal, state, or local law provides for greater family and medical leave rights than this policy, D-H will comply with those laws.
  5. Approval Process
    • In order to utilize Parental Leave, all Eligible Employees must comply with D-H’s normal procedures for requesting leave. An employee’s failure to comply with leave procedures may delay or result in the denial of Parental Leave.
    • Documentation of child placement must be presented to the Benefits Administration at the time of requesting Parenting Leave for approval in adoption events.
    • Parental Leave must be approved in advance per departmental, clinic, or section policy, unless the Eligible Employee is using Parental Leave during the Short Term Disability 14-day elimination period or in conjunction with an approved FMLA leave for a birth of a child or adoption.

Questions about this policy should be directed to Benefits Administration at 603-653-1400 or dhbenefits@hitchcock.org.

D-H Policy ID: 19504