Section 1
When employees request, they shall receive an uninterrupted period of leave for up to six (6) months for prenatal/infant care needs, including infant adoption.
Section 2
Subject to staffing and workload, when employees request, they shall be entitled to leave for an additional three (3) months for prenatal/infant care, including infant adoption. Employees on prenatal/infant care leave under this Section are subject to recall to duty with thirty (30) days notice, when unforeseen staffing and workload necessitate a return to duty.
Section 3
The leave afforded employees in this Article is in addition to the leave entitlements contained in Article 26, Section 5.
The provisions of this Article shall not run concurrently with FMLA. The employee shall determine in what order he/she will utilize the provisions contained within this Article and Article 26, Section 5.
Section 4
During the period of leave under this Article, the employee may choose how and in what order such absence will be recorded: sick leave, annual leave, and/or LWOP, to the extent that annual and/or sick leave is available. Advance sick leave may not exceed thirty (30) days.
Section 5
During the period of leave under this Article, retirement, time- in-grade coverage, health benefits, and life insurance benefits will be continued to the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation.
Section 6
To the extent staffing and workload permit, employees shall be allowed to work part-time to accommodate prenatal/infant care needs.
Section 7
The entitlements to leave within this Article shall be a maximum period of nine (9) months. The total entitlements contained within this Article shall conclude no later than twelve (12) months from the date of the birth of the child or the date of the infant adoption.
Section 8
The provisions of this Article shall apply to each instance of childbirth or infant adoption.