Benefits-Eligible Faculty

Includes tenure-track, nontenure-track and benefits-eligible, part-time faculty.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2021*, all leaves will be administered by Brandeis' leave administration partner, The Standard. This means that there will be some changes to your time off and leave benefits, as well as the leave request, reporting and tracking process.

Here is a snapshot of what is changing in 2021:

Benefit in 2020 Change in 2021
100% pay No change in benefit
Medical leave No change in benefit
Family leave for bonding
  • New bonding benefit (applies to birth parent, nonbirth parent, adoption and foster-care placement).
  • New: Nonprimary care responsibility is removed.
Family medical leave New paid family leave benefit*

* Paid family leave benefits to care for a family member with a serious health condition will become available on July 1, 2021.

Examples of What New Leave Plans Provide

The examples below show what the new leave plans provide for various life events.

For Your Own Medical Leave

(Effective Jan. 1, 2021)

You will continue to receive 100% salary for up to six calendar months. As an enhanced benefit for you in 2021, there will no longer be a two-semester waiting period.

Time Period Type of Benefit Amount of Benefit
0-6 months Paid medical leave 100% salary
After 6 months Long-term disability 60% salary, up to $10,000 per month maximum

For Bonding With a New Child in Your Family

(Effective Jan. 1, 2021)

If you are the birth parent

If you are the birth parent, you will receive 100% salary for 12 weeks. This is in addition to the benefit received under medical for birth recovery (typically 6-8 weeks).

Type of Benefit Time Period Amount of Benefit
Paid medical leave Typically 6-8 weeks, depending on your benefits 100% salary
Paid bonding leave* 12 weeks following completion of paid medical leave 100% salary

* Bonding leave can be taken any time up to one year following birth or adoption.

If you are not the birth parent

If you are not the birth parent, you are still able to receive 100% salary for 12 weeks. If you are married to another Brandeis benefits-eligible faculty member, you do not have to split the 12-week bonding time.

Type of Benefit Time Period Amount of Benefit
Paid medical leave 0-12 weeks 100% salary

For Caring for a Sick Family Member

(Effective July 1, 2021)

All benefits-eligible faculty are required to use sick time for week one. For weeks 2-12, salary continuation is provided by our private MAPFML plan, up to the MAPFML weekly maximum of $1084.31.

Because of the complexity of the Massachusetts average weekly wage calculation, benefits-eligible faculty are unable to use sick time incrementally to reach their regular salary each week. As a result, Brandeis faculty members may use accrued leave time in place of the private MAPFML plan benefit if they choose.

The amount of benefits you are eligible to receive for our private MAPFML plan is based on your own average weekly wage when you apply for leave. The maximum total amount that you can receive in MAPFML benefits right now is $1084.31 per week. See the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits calculator to estimate your weekly benefit should you choose to apply.

Time Period Type of Benefit Amount of Benefit
Week 1 100% pay 100% salary
Weeks 2-12 Private MAPFML plan 80% salary, up to maximum $1084.31 per week