UMBC is committed to providing the caregivers in our community with resources to help our faculty, staff and student caregivers find a healthy balance between work and the rest of our lives.
A Caregiver at UMBC is a member of our community who tends to the needs or concerns of someone within their circle of friends and family who needs help; the person needing assistance may be a child, or an adult or older adult with short- or long-term limitations due to illness, injury or disability. Caregivers manage the physical, emotional and practical needs of another person, while also managing their own life, needs, family, and career.
The Provost’s Resources for Caregivers provides useful information for caregivers in our UMBC community. There is also a useful Family Support Brochure. In addition, HR’s Family page includes links and information on childcare, eldercare and tuition assistance as well as other employee/family personal services.
Caregiving Support Laws and Policies: Know Your Rights!
- There are a number of federal, state, and local laws and regulations and University System of Maryland (“USM”), and UMBC policies that describe the supports and legal protections for faculty with caregiving responsibilities. Some of the major subject areas covered include:Eligible faculty are allowed to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a leave year for their own serious health condition, the serious health condition of a family member, or to care for a newborn or newly-placed adoptive or foster child.
- A faculty member who is the spouse, child (of any age), parent, or next of kin of a covered service member may use up to twenty-six (26) workweeks of leave in a single twelve- (12-) month period to care for a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.
- A mother has a right to pump milk upon returning to work and is entitled to reasonable break time and a clean, private space to express milk for their infants up to one year after each child’s birth. A bathroom or restroom may not be designated as a lactation facility. UMBC has designated lactation rooms available on campus.
- Eligible faculty are allowed a maximum of 12 weeks of Parental Leave to help balance the needs and demands due to the birth or adoption of a child. Parental Leave runs concurrent with Family and Medical leave (if the faculty is eligible for FMLA).
- It is prohibited to discriminate against a faculty member or applicant based on a past pregnancy or pregnancy-related medical condition or childbirth; to discriminate based on a faculty member’s intention or potential to become pregnant; and to discriminate against a faculty member because of a medical condition related to pregnancy. If a faculty member is temporarily unable to perform their job due to a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, they are entitled to be treated the same as others who are similar in their ability or inability to work but are not affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
- No faculty member shall be discriminated against or otherwise experience reprisals in any appointment, evaluation, promotion, tenure or other employment-related process as a result of utilizing parental leave or any other form of leave taken for caregiving or other family support options.
