Family and Medical Leave (FML) Introduction
Qualifying Reasons
UC Employees may be able to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid Family and Medical Leave (FML) due to:
- Incapacity due to:
- Pregnancy, prenatal medical care, or childbirth.
- A serious health condition
- The serious health condition of a son or daughter, spouse, domestic partner, or parent
- Bonding with a newborn, adopted or foster-care child in accordance with state and federal law in effect at the time of the leave.
- Military Family Leave to eligible employees with spouse, child, or parent on active duty or called to active duty.
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FMLA Eligibility
To be eligible for FMLA benefits, an employee must have:
At least 12 months of University service and
At least 1,250 hours of work in the 12 months immediately preceding the leave.
The Leaves Office will determine whether an employee qualifies for FMLA leave. Please email leaves@ucmerced.edu for more information.
For more information, take a look at the Family Medical Leave Factsheet.
*These eligibility requirements do not apply to Pregnancy Disability Leave taken under PDLL.
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Pay for Family Care and Bonding
If you are eligible for FML, you may also be eligible for Pay for Family Care and Bonding (PFCB). The Pay for Family Care and Bonding (PFCB) Program, effective January 1, 2023, gives qualifying employees the option to replace 100% of their eligible earnings for up to eight work weeks per calendar year.
PFCB be used for FML-eligible block leaves only to care for a family member or parental bonding.
For information regarding the PFCB Program, please visit UC Net.
Pregnant Worker's Fairness Act (PWFA)
This law went fully in effect June 18, 2024 and requires a covered employer to provide a "reasonable accommodation" to a qualified employee's or applicant's known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodations will cause the employer an "undue hardship". A leave of absence can be a reasonable accommodation that an employee requests under PWFA. To learn more visit the EEOC website.
