Revised Paid Leave Policy expands parental time off eligibility, including other changes

A revised Human Resources Paid Leave Policy, 6.27, will go into effect January 3, 2021, and expand parental leave eligibility, amongst other revisions. The policy will also be renamed “Paid Time Off.”

The revised Paid Time Off Policy will expand the 240-hour parental leave entitlement to include birth mother and other parent, providing parents with paid time off to recover from childbirth and/or to care for and bond with a newborn or newly adopted child.

Faculty or staff who hold at least 75% Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) position and are in a regular, term (including post-doctoral scholars), seasonal, or associated faculty position at the time they become a parent are eligible for parental time off immediately upon hire.

All eligible faculty and staff can take up to 240 hours (six work weeks, based on an appointment of 100% FTE) of parental time off immediately following a birth or adoptive event, or when medically necessary or necessary to fulfill the legal requirements for an adoption, parental time off may be taken prior to the birth or adoptive event.

Additional policy changes include:

  • Added sections for use of vacation and sick time to include minimum use and exhaustion of paid time off prior to requesting unpaid absences. (Policy Details I. C. (4) and II. C. (3), p. 3 and p. 4 respectively)
  • Revised the eligibility for vacation donation from “life threatening illness” to “serious health condition.” (Policy Details VII. A. 1., p. 7)
  • Added section to address how multiple positions are combined for time off eligibility. (Policy Details VIII, p. 8)
  • Updated the approver for Vacation Donation to Integrated Absence Management and Vocational Services (IAVMS). (Procedure II. A., p. 9)
  • Updated Compliance and Fraud Section to clarify and align with Unpaid Leave Policy. (Procedure V, pp. 9-10)
  • Removed the required “certificate of domestic partnership” and added a statement to indicate that attestation of familial relationship may be required. (Procedure VI, p. 10)

View the full summary of changes and the revised Paid Time Off Policy that will go into effect on January 3, 2020.

A full list of revised policies related to the Enterprise Project and their changes is available on the Office of University Compliance and Integrity’s University Policies website.

HR Focus News

Honoring excellence: The 2026 Distinguished Staff Awards

Across Ohio State, 13 exceptional staff members are transforming the university’s mission into daily action through their commitment to innovation and collaboration. As the 2026 Distinguished Staff Award recipients, these individuals represent the pinnacle of excellence in everything that they do.

Staff Professional Development Funds

If you are interested in pursuing professional development over the next year, apply for funds by June 1, 2026, at 5 p.m.

The power of purpose: How the Leadership Certificate Program is transforming campus leaders

At The Ohio State University, people leaders have access to resources that help them continuously grow as leaders. As part of this investment in excellence, the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and Ohio State Human Resources partnered in 2025 to launch a section of the Leadership Certificate Program for Ohio State employees.

Learn about the newly redesigned YP4H

Ohio State has launched a new Your Plan for Health (YP4H) wellness portal that offers more ways to explore wellness resources and earn rewards for the activities that matter most to you.

Ohio State honors 752 faculty and staff for milestone service

The Ohio State University celebrated long-serving employees at the annual Faculty and Staff Service Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 10. A total of 752 faculty and staff were honored this year for reaching milestone anniversaries, ranging from 25 to 55 years of service.

Recent HR News

Revisions to Drug-Free Workplace Policy

The Ohio State University has revised the Drug-Free Workplace Policy, 7.30 to further clarify safety and standards across all work environments, including remote and on-call locations. Key changes include updated procedures for reasonable suspicion testing, new guidance on prescription drug accommodations and refined definitions.

Spring Learning Series on Retirement Living

A national retirement association, Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education, is offering a virtual learning series, “Charting the Journey to a Fulfilling Retirement"

Save smart. Gain insights. Plan ahead.

Join the Human Resources team and our expert partners for the third Virtual Retirement Fair. A series of webinars offering valuable insights will be held Feb. 9-13. Don't miss this opportunity to confidently plan your financial future. Visit the Virtual Retirement Fair website for registration and schedule details.

Important 2026 Benefits Reminders

Here are a few important reminders about your 2026 benefits, key deadlines, and wellness actions you may need to consider. Review the information to help you understand what to expect and actions you may need to take.

Nominations open for the Distinguished Staff Awards

The annual Distinguished Staff Awards exist to shine a light on these individuals, and nominations are now open. The nomination deadline is Monday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m.