Federal Employees Maternity Leave Laws

Civilian workers employed under the United States government are all covered by the federal employees maternity leave laws which was outlined by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Law in favor of sick leave and childbirth

As a parent you are entitled to many leave benefits with regards to pregnancy, childbirth and childcare. Further the government takes consideration by passing laws which give you flexible work timings to suit your new born childcare.

Do you need a sick leave?

As a pregnant woman you are entitled to twelve weeks of sick leave which includes visit to your gynacecologist for prenatal checkups, pre-natal hospitalization, childbirth and post-natal recovery and a doctor’s certificate stating ill health will help you get the required leave.

But with this you need to know that your sick leave cannot be granted in case your child is healthy and normal.

Yearly paid leave

The law states that you can always utilize your yearly or annual leave with your pregnancy and childbirth and this leave can be applied by both the parent. Furthermore you can utilize this annual leave to build a healthy bonding with your baby though this leave is granted under special conditions.

Benefits of advance annual leave

Annual leave or sick leave can be granted in advance for a month for both parents. This sick leave is a paid leave and the payment depends upon the amount that you receive at the year’s end.

Voluntary leave programs

This is one such leave program wherein you as a federal employee can voluntarily donate your annual leave to someone who is in need to this leave period and who has already exhausted his or her own leave period and this leave is usually used in case of medical emergencies, pregnancy and child birth though this leave cannot be utilized to for the healthy bonding in case of baby is healthy and normal.

Unpaid leave

Leave without pay (LWOP) is a facility wherein you obtain the required days of leave in spite of having exhausted the annual leave quota, though this is subjected to the approval of your supervisors.

Family and Medical Leave Act

Laws regarding maternity leave for the whole of United States are subjected to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and under this act all the employees are granted a twelve week of leave without pay during the entire year though there are a few terms and conditions to obtain this leave.

As a parent you can utilize the benefits of FMLA for postnatal recovery period, caring for your newborn child and this leave benefit can be utilized by either of you, though this facility is available only if the request is sent in advance you need to understand that this is an unpaid leave.

Maternity leave and Federal Maternity leave laws

There are many flexible working options for working mothers like telecommuting, part time work and job sharing in order to help them share the work load and every branch in the U.S government needs to have maternity leave as well as family leave policy so as to help parents raise their children with a healthy bonding.