Policy 510 – Paid Prenatal Personal Leave

Section: Leave
Policy Number: 510
Responsible Office: HR/Employee Benefits
Effective Date: 1/1/25

Scope

This policy applies to all University employees.

Policy

The University will provide up to 20 hours of paid personal leave in any 52-week calendar period for an employee to receive prenatal health care services. This paid leave is for health care services received by an employee during pregnancy or related to such pregnancy, including physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing, and discussions with a health care provider related to the pregnancy.  This paid leave does not apply to post-natal or postpartum appointments.

Paid prenatal personal leave may be taken in hourly increments and paid in hourly installments at employees’ regular rate of pay or minimum wage, whichever is greater. Paid prenatal leave is in addition to existing leave entitlements such as paid sick and safe leave, paid family leave and leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. 

Documentation

Supervisors are responsible for tracking leave time accurately on employees’ timesheets by indicating Sick/Personal Leave and including comments in the online timesheet or department timekeeping system to identify the time as “Paid Prenatal Personal Leave.”

Compliance and Non-Retaliation

Retaliating against employees who take prenatal leave is prohibited. Further, the University shall not require the disclosure of confidential information as a condition of providing paid prenatal personal leave. Upon separation from employment, unused prenatal personal leave shall have no monetary value and will not be paid out.

For more information, including FAQs, visit the New York State Paid Prenatal Leave website.

Related Policies

• 402A Safe and Sick Leave for full-time Administrators

• 402B Safe and Sick Leave for full-time Staff

• 402C Safe and Sick Leave for eligible part-time and per-diem Employees, Adjunct Faculty and Regular Student Workers (non work-study students)

• 502 Family and Medical Leave

• 509 New York Paid Family Leave

• 603 Short-term Disability (NY State Disability)

• 809 Lactation Accommodations

• 810 Pregnant Workers Fairness

• 814 Paid Lactation Breaks

St. John’s University, New York
Human Resources Policy Manual