Paid Family Medical Leave

What is Paid Family and Medical Leave?

Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is a paid benefit that allows eligible Morgan State University (MSU) employees to take time away from work for qualifying family, medical, or military‑related reasons while maintaining job protection. This means that while you are on approved PFML, your position is protected and you have the right to return to the same or a comparable position with the same pay and benefits when your leave ends. PFML is paid at your regular rate of pay, and you are not required to use or exhaust your accrued leave before using PFML. PFML is a benefit provided directly by MSU and is not an insurance-based program.

 An employee is eligible for PFML day one of employment if:

• They are faculty, staff, or contractual employees that are not excluded in the PFML Policy.

 An employee can request PFML for any of the following reasons:

• Parental leave: For the first year after birth, or to bond with a child placed in your care through adoption, foster care, or kinship care within the first year of placement.
• Family caregiver leave: To care for a family member with a serious health condition.
• Employee medical leave: For your own serious health condition.
• Military caregiver leave: To care for a covered service member who is your next of kin and has a serious health condition resulting from military service.
• Military exigency leave: To address qualifying needs arising from a family member’s deployment.

When Should I Apply for PFML?

Apply as soon as possible. If the need for PFML coverage is foreseeable due to pregnancy, adoption/foster care, or planned medical treatment for a serious illness of the employee or a family member, employees are asked to provide 30 days' advance notice before the absence begins.

PFML Period of Absence

An employee is eligible for up to a maximum of 12 workweeks of PFML based on their normal work schedule (not to exceed 60 workdays or 480 hours) in an application year/12-month period.

I'm Ready to Apply, Now What?

Steps in the application process:

1. Employees are encouraged to provide notice to the Office of Human Resources of the need for PFML and provide at least 30 days advance notice when the absence is foreseeable.
2. Complete the PFML paperwork here.