Accessibility and Accommodation
Pregnancy Accommodations
UVM is committed to providing a supportive workplace during your pregnancy. If needed, you can make a request for accommodation due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This includes parking accommodations in your third trimester. Talk with your supervisor about your needs or review the accommodation request process (PDF).
Parental Leave Options
Paid Parental Leave
Eligible staff will receive eight weeks of paid parental leave for the following reasons:
- The birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care; or
- To bond with a child within one year of the child's birth or placement.
Faculty paid parental leave may be dependent on rank and years of service. Please consult your CBA or handbook for more information.
Short-Term Disability
Eligible employees may elect Voluntary Short-Term Disability during Open Enrollment, which provides 70% of your salary if you are unable to work due to a medically qualified reason. Staff enrolled in Short Term Disability may receive disability pay for the time they are medically disabled following giving birth.
Family and Medical Leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides eligible employees with job protected leave for the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care. It can also be used during pregnancy if medical reasons prevent you from working. You can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year.
FMLA requires that your group health benefits be maintained during the leave. You would still be responsible for your portion of the cost. Employees who use FMLA leave have the right to go back to work at their same job or to an equivalent job that has the same pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment at the end of their FMLA leave.
Paid Time Off
During parental leave, you have the option whether or not you use accrued Paid Time Off.
Things to Know
- Paid Parental leave must be used consecutively, unless an employee intends to go on short-term disability. It cannot be spread beyond eight weeks once it is started.
- After paid parental leave and any short-term disability benefits are exhausted, any remaining FMLA leave will be compensated through PTO or can be taken unpaid.
- Paid Parental Leave, Short Term Disability, and PTO run concurrently with FMLA.
For more information on Parental Leave and how to initiate the process, visit our Time Off and Leave page.
Better Beginnings for you and your little one
For employees enrolled in our medical insurance plan and their spouses, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont offers the Better Beginnings program which provides added benefits during and after your pregnancy.
Better Beginnings with BCBS of VTBetter Beginnings
Details
Enrolling in the free Better Beginnings program is a great way to make sure you and your baby are getting all the care you need. Benefits include:
- Care coordination with a nurse both during pregnancy and after birth
- A mobile app for communicating with your nurse and tracking your personalized health checklist
- $125 for educational classes on topics like childbirth, parenting, and breastfeeding
- A free breast pump
If you enroll in the Better Beginnings program before 34 weeks of pregnancy, you can also choose one of the following rewards:
- $150 reimbursement for fitness classes taken while pregnant or up to 3 months postpartum
- $150 reimbursement for a car seat
- Reimbursement for help at home after your baby is born (up to $25 an hour for as much as nine hours of household services)
Lactation and Chest/Breastfeeding at Work
Lactation Spaces
UVM provides private spaces across campus where nursing parents are welcome to pump or nurse. Rooms are equipped with appropriate signage, a comfortable chair, a small table and an electrical outlet. Included in these spaces are two ADA accessible lactation suites (designed by Mamava, a Burlington-based company co-founded by a UVM alumna!).
Employees may also use other private spaces within their building. Employees are encouraged to work with their supervisor to identify a space and any other pre-planning necessary.
Locations can be found using out Interactive Campus Map with Nursing Parents Locations. In general, rooms are left unlocked if unoccupied and can be locked from the inside. If you find that a room is locked and there is no one using the room, please call 656-0156 and the door unlocked as soon as possible.
Tips for Pumping or Feeding at Work
- Talk with your supervisor. Discuss the number and frequency of breaks that will be appropriate for you to take, then block your time on your calendar.
- Identify a location. Where are the closest lactation spaces to your office? Are there other private spaces you can use?
- Store your milk. Where can you safely store expressed milk? Plan to use a nearby refrigerator or bring your own cooler with ice packs.
- Pack your bag. Write out a list of the items you'll need for milk expression. Some suggested items include:
- Breast pump and parts, plus a container or bag to store them (if you have the space, keep a set spare parts at work)
- Clean bottles with lids or storage bags
- Cooler for storage
- Breast/chest pads
- Hand sanitizer
- Back-up shirt
- Snacks & water
- A photo of your baby or the beneficiary of your milk
- Wipes or a paper towel to clean up any leaks or spills
Other Questions? Read UVM's Lactation and Nursing in the Workplace Policy (PDF)
Resources
Mental Health, Wellbeing and Mindfulness
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. This lifeline is available 24/7 from anywhere.
Invest EAP provides immediate access to free, confidential counseling for a wide range of life issues, including transitions associated with welcoming a new child. You and your household members can access this service.
Vermont 211 is a free, confidential information and referral program of the United Ways of Vermont, helping to connect Vermonters with a wide range of community, health, and human resources and services. Call 211 or visit the 211 website to be connected to resources.
Childcare and Caregiving
The Vermont Child Care Lynx webpage, operated by Let's Grow Kids, is a Vermont State resource developed to help families find childcare options.
Child Care Resource is a referral agency that helps families find childcare options and provides support connecting to resources to help paying for it.
Trinity Children’s Center (TCC) is an independent, nonprofit program that, for more than 40 years, has offered high-quality early care and education for 3–5-year-old children. Trinity Children’s Center has a set number of slots reserved each year for UVM staff, faculty, and graduate student families. Information about the program, applications, and enrollment can be found on the TCC website. The Waitlist Form must be completed no later than March 1st to be considered for the academic year beginning in August.
Vermont 211 is a free, confidential information and referral program of the United Ways of Vermont, helping to connect Vermonters with a wide range of community, health, and human resources and services. Call 211 or search the 211 site for information about childcare resources and child care expense assistance.
UVM Child Care Mixer: Each semester, the Office of Student & Community Relations hosts a meet-and-greet for area families in need of childcare and UVM students interested in a childcare job. These events will be publicized through Inside UVM.
Flexible Spending Accounts are available through UVM that allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars from your paycheck to pay for eligible out-of-pocket dependent care expenses. Learn more at our Benefits page.