Skip to main content
Full Menu Close Menu

Frequently Asked Questions

You can search the FAQs on our website by keyword or category above. 

A list of the most commonly asked questions.

If a holiday or other non-work day occurs during my parental leave, will my leave be extended?

No. If a non-work date (eg, holiday, school vacation, weekend, etc.) occurs during your 6 weeks of parental leave, it is included within that time frame and will not extend the duration of your leave. Non-birth parents who must start their parental leave on the date of the event will do so even if that falls on a non-work day (other than summer vacation for school year employees). However, if you are a birth mother who is using your CAR/sick time for a  six (or eight, for C-sections) week recovery period after birth and prior to parental leave, paid holidays and vacations can count toward that time without charge to your CAR/sick time.

I am an F-status employee. Am I eligible for Parental Leave?

No. Individuals who work F-status are not entitled to Parental Leave. Time worked F-status will also not count towards eligibility to take Parental Leave. 

I had twins/triplets/multiple births. How much Parental Leave am I eligible for?

Multiple births from one pregnancy are considered to be a single covered event, so you will get the same six weeks. 

If I take Parental Leave and I have another qualifying event in the future, when will I be eligible to take another Parental Leave?

Members are eligible for an additional Parental Leave if they have been an eligible employee in active status for 10 calendar months following the initial covered event, exclusive of time on an unpaid leave other than Parental Leave. 

If I work on the day of the birth/covered event, when will my Parental Leave start?

For non-birth parents, your Parental Leave will start the next day, but still will end no later than 6 calendar weeks starting on the day of the event. For birth mothers, Parental Leave will start after the use of any CAR/sick days towards a recovery period. 

What does the term "active status" mean regarding leaves?

Active status is defined as being on any one of the following: 

  • on payroll, using CAR days or sick time, on an annual leave, on a paid leave, on Parental Leave
  • on an unpaid leave for a pregnancy-related condition
  • on an unpaid leave due to a medically-disputed Line of Duty Injury (LODI) for up to three months
  • on a leave pursuant to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), FLMA, or other statutory leave
When are CAR days/sick time earned and credited?

Cumulative Absence Reserve (CAR) is the formal name for UFT-represented pedagogical DOE employees’ “sick bank" of days. All titles earn one CAR day per month after serving 16 days on payroll. The day is added to the members CAR bank on the 30th of each month. Members who are on a sabbatical do not earn CAR days.

How do I apply for paid parental leave?

Apply online through SOLAS (https://dhrnycaps.nycenet.edu/SOLAS) up to 15 days prior to giving birth or within 10 days following birth. If you don’t apply within that window, the DOE will require you to explain the extenuating circumstances and may not approve your leave.

When do I apply for paid parental leave?

You should apply at least 15 days prior to the anticipated due or covered event date, but no later than 10 days after delivery to ensure timely payment of the benefit from the UFT.

If your baby arrives much later than the due date, you can revise your application in SOLAS. Just log back in within 10 days of giving birth. You have to confirm the birth date regardless. 

In general you should apply as soon as possible when you know your plans for using your CAR days and any additional child care leave, however keep in mind that you will not be able to apply earlier than two months in advance of the anticipated event. You should also notify your school or work location so they can begin to plan for your absence.

Who is eligible to take paid parental leave?

New parents – including by birth, adoption and foster care - who are in titles represented by UFT are eligible to apply for Parental Leave, and meet the following criteria:
• You must be either:
- A full-time employee or
- An H-bank/non-pedagogical employee who works a regular schedule of 20 hours or more per week
• You must have been an employee and on payroll for a minimum of 12 calendar months from your most recent date of hire.
• You must have been in active status for the 12 calendar months immediately prior to the covered event.

F-status and per diem employees are not eligible for paid parental leave.