What is Paternity/Family Bonding Leave?

 

Important Note: Any unpaid leave of absence, including PFML, may affect salary placement, retirement service credits, and SEBB eligibility. Refer to your collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or your Human Resources strand specialist if you have questions about salary placement.

Male employees who did not give birth are entitled to the same leave that is available to female employees upon the birth or adoption of the employee's child.

Family Bonding leave of up to 12 weeks may be available to employees who are eligible for Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and/or state Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML). If eligible for both FMLA and PFML, they will run concurrently (at the same time) for a maximum of 12 weeks of leave.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act provides eligible employees job and benefit protection during an approved leave for qualifying family and medical reasons.  The protection does not provide for compensation.  Often, employees will utilize their own paid leave balances (sick, personal, etc.) to continue to receive compensation during their period of FMLA leave.  In Washington State, Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) is a state-run insurance program that provides eligible employees with paid time off for qualifying events.  Employees could opt to utilize this pay during a period of FMLA protection rather than utilizing their own district paid leave benefits. 

Beginning January 1, 2026, updates to Washington’s PFML law goes into effect that eliminates “stacking” (using one leave after the other) of FMLA and PFML. Under this change, the district will implement concurrent use of these leaves. This means FMLA and PFML will run at the same time, providing up to a combined maximum of 12 weeks (for one qualifying event) or 16 weeks (for two different qualifying events) of job-protected leave under both laws.

Leave counted against any permitted period of employment protection under the PFML program and the FMLA, and the use of unpaid leave does not affect your eligibility for benefits in the PFML Program.

Leave forms can be found here.

For more information, click here to visit the Maternity Leave page. 

For additional questions, please contact Cindi Battram, the Leaves Specialist. She would be happy to assist you. She can be reached at 253-931-4916 or by email at cbattram@auburn.wednet.edu.