Any Feds due before Oct 1 able to get paid mat leave?

[Anonymous]

I've heard of at least one sub-agency whose union successfully lobbied to have the new maternity leave policy (12 weeks paid) apply retroactively as of Jan 1, 2020. Does anyone have any details on anything similar - specifically an agency or sub-agency who has publicly chosen to interpret the new OPM guidelines more generously? My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent, but we don't have a union to lobby on our behalf.

I'm due in August and have two colleagues due at the end of September so we're eager to find any evidence of flexibility.

[Anonymous]

A couple of unions already have this. I believe NTEU and the SEC does, but it went into effect before the paid leave law was passed.

I would check NTEU and AFGE's websites and see if there are any press releases on this. I would think the major unions would publicize it.

[Anonymous]

My agency has put all pregnant women on paid weather and safety leave, so they are at home. We are a non-telework agency. They won’t be required to go back until this is over.

[Anonymous]

SEC and FDIC do this, and CIA and GIA (intelligence arm of DOD) might as well.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Mine was quite explicit that in no way shape or form would I ever qualify with this pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent

This is very interesting, do you mind expanding on how you came to this conclusion? Is your agency sending out emails or is this via talks with HR? Anything you can provide would be helpful because I am trying to lobby for this leave at my agency.

My understanding with all of this is that since the parental leave act is LAW the only way to change the effective date is through another act of Congress. Hence, any type of parental leave that an agency might offer before October 1 will have to be of their own good will and must take from their own pot of money.

From chatting with lawmakers, it sounds like the October 1 date was chosen at the request of OPM so they can have time to come up with guidance. I believe there was also a need to wait until October 1 because of a delay in funding.

Also speaking of DOD, there is precedence with parental leave being made retroactive for active duty troops in the Military Parental Leave Program in 2018.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple of unions already have this. I believe NTEU and the SEC does, but it went into effect before the paid leave law was passed.

I would check NTEU and AFGE's websites and see if there are any press releases on this. I would think the major unions would publicize it.

I think the SEC’s leave is not quite as long as the one now required by law, so it wouldn’t be quite as good. But it is far better than nothing, and I may be remembering the details wrong.

[Anonymous]

SEC leave is 6 weeks. Certainly better than nothing! But can’t use the 12 until Oct 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard of at least one sub-agency whose union successfully lobbied to have the new maternity leave policy (12 weeks paid) apply retroactively as of Jan 1, 2020. Does anyone have any details on anything similar - specifically an agency or sub-agency who has publicly chosen to interpret the new OPM guidelines more generously? My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent, but we don't have a union to lobby on our behalf.

I'm due in August and have two colleagues due at the end of September so we're eager to find any evidence of flexibility.

Do you know which sub agency it is or are you asking which one it is. I’m also curious about how to get it at my agency. I’m due in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent

This is very interesting, do you mind expanding on how you came to this conclusion? Is your agency sending out emails or is this via talks with HR? Anything you can provide would be helpful because I am trying to lobby for this leave at my agency.

My understanding with all of this is that since the parental leave act is LAW the only way to change the effective date is through another act of Congress. Hence, any type of parental leave that an agency might offer before October 1 will have to be of their own good will and must take from their own pot of money.

From chatting with lawmakers, it sounds like the October 1 date was chosen at the request of OPM so they can have time to come up with guidance. I believe there was also a need to wait until October 1 because of a delay in funding.

Also speaking of DOD, there is precedence with parental leave being made retroactive for active duty troops in the Military Parental Leave Program in 2018.

OP - I contacted HR and asked how they were interpreting OPM guidance, mentioning what I had heard about more generous interpretations at other agencies and they asked for records or public statements to back that up. Admittedly I was at a hormonal low point and got a little emotional with my HR contact ("this is wildly unfair to anyone who gives birth at 11:59pm on September 30th and hasn't been here long enough to accrue enough sick or annual leave to even come close to the 12 weeks a mom who gives birth minutes later would receive" etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard of at least one sub-agency whose union successfully lobbied to have the new maternity leave policy (12 weeks paid) apply retroactively as of Jan 1, 2020. Does anyone have any details on anything similar - specifically an agency or sub-agency who has publicly chosen to interpret the new OPM guidelines more generously? My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent, but we don't have a union to lobby on our behalf.

I'm due in August and have two colleagues due at the end of September so we're eager to find any evidence of flexibility.

Do you know which sub agency it is or are you asking which one it is. I’m also curious about how to get it at my agency. I’m due in July.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard of at least one sub-agency whose union successfully lobbied to have the new maternity leave policy (12 weeks paid) apply retroactively as of Jan 1, 2020. Does anyone have any details on anything similar - specifically an agency or sub-agency who has publicly chosen to interpret the new OPM guidelines more generously? My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent, but we don't have a union to lobby on our behalf.

I'm due in August and have two colleagues due at the end of September so we're eager to find any evidence of flexibility.

Do you know which sub agency it is or are you asking which one it is. I’m also curious about how to get it at my agency. I’m due in July.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

They are an independent bureau. Don’t the independent agencies have leeway to their own benefits like SEC? Versus comparing OCC to say USDA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard of at least one sub-agency whose union successfully lobbied to have the new maternity leave policy (12 weeks paid) apply retroactively as of Jan 1, 2020. Does anyone have any details on anything similar - specifically an agency or sub-agency who has publicly chosen to interpret the new OPM guidelines more generously? My agency has shown potential willingness to be flexible if others are setting the right precedent, but we don't have a union to lobby on our behalf.

I'm due in August and have two colleagues due at the end of September so we're eager to find any evidence of flexibility.

Which union? Sounds off frankly. Perhaps the union got this concession during bargaining with management over the CBA or an existing policy. But agencies are not going to be able to be loosey goosely with the OPM rule. It's law and cannot be changed absent Congressional action. Agency's hands are tied.

[Anonymous]

Federal reserve effective date is earlier ; my union is trying to negotiate earlier date. I’m due in July and my leave plan is short term disability plus accrued annual and sick leave.

[Anonymous]

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/benefits/2020/05/house-democrats-call-for-retroactive-expansion-of-paid-parental-leave-to-federal-employees/