Family Benefits

We believe family is important, which is why we offer numerous benefits that can make a difference for your family.

Family Medical Leave Act

As an employee, you may be entitled to a medical leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Your eligibility for FMLA leave is based upon certain guidelines and must be certified by your doctor. FMLA leave provides job protection should the need for you to take a leave of absence arise.

Eligible employees may take up to twelve (12) workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:

• The birth of a child or placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care.
• To care for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.
• For a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of their job.
• For any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a spouse, son, daughter, or parent is a military member on covered active duty or call to covered active-duty status.

FML is unpaid, however the University requires employees to use all available paid time off (PTO) for an approved FML.

Faculty and staff who wish to apply for FMLA should contact the Benefits & Wellness team at fmla@butler.edu or 317-940-9355 to discuss the eligibility and certification requirements.

View the FMLA Brochure (English) (PDF) or the FMLA Brochure (Spanish) (PDF). View the Employee Guide to FMLA (PDF).

Parental Leave Policy

Butler will provide 8 weeks of paid parental leave so employees can care for and bond with a newborn or a newly adopted or newly placed child. This policy will run concurrently with Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, as applicable.

The benefit can be taken any time within the 12-month period after the date of birth, foster arrangement, or placement for adoption, but the 8 weeks must be taken consecutively. Full time faculty members may work with their deans to identify specific accommodations associated with the birth, foster arrangement, or placement for adoption to not disrupt the classroom experience. If both parents work at Butler University and meet the eligibility requirements, the benefit may be split between the two parents, but may not exceed 8 weeks combined in total.

Staff and faculty who wish to utilize parental leave should contact Benefits & Wellness at fmla@butler.edu or 317-940-9355 to discuss eligibility.

Lactation Rooms

There are reservable, dedicated rooms available to mothers needing a space on campus for lactation. These spaces are in Jordan Hall (Room 343-C), Service Center, and Dugan Hall (DH 018).

Reservations can be made by logging into my.butler.edu and clicking on “Schedule A Room”. Using the Browse, Locations feature, you can search “Lactation” in the search box on the right side of the screen. Click on the room, “Linked Templates” and then “Book Now”.

Insurance Eligibility and Dependent Changes

Due to IRS regulations, once you have made your elections for the plan year, you cannot change your benefits until the next annual open enrollment. The only exception is if you experience a qualifying life event. Elections changes must be requested within 30 days of the event date.

Examples of a Qualifying Life Event includes, but are not limited to:

  • Marriage, divorce, or legal separation
  • Birth, adoption or place for adoption or foster care
  • Death of a dependent or spouse
  • Change in your spouse’s employment status
  • Change in coverage under your spouse’s plan
  • A loss of eligibility for other health coverage
  • Termination of eligibility for Medicaid or a state Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Becoming eligible for a premium assistance subsidy under Medicaid or a state CHIP

Please notify the Benefits & Wellness team at benefits@butler.edu of your qualifying life event within 30 days of the event date. Once supporting documentation is received, an enrollment event will be opened for you to login to my.butler.edu to update your coverage elections.