Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits
Boston University offers Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits to all employees of the University in accordance with the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The Boston University Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits comply with, and in many cases exceed, the benefits required under the Massachusetts law and are intended to provide employees with leave benefits that allow employees to take time away from work for eligible personal medical and family concerns.
The University offers its Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits through a private plan, rather than directly through the Massachusetts medical and family leave programs. The University does not require payroll contributions from employee wages to provide these benefits.
Overview of the University’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits
These benefits are intended to provide University employees with paid leave for either personal medical or family reasons.
Personal Medical Leave
- To attend to your own serious health condition that prevents you from working for a week or more
- Up to 20/26 weeks (depending on your employment category)
Family Leave
- To attend to a family member’s serious health condition, the arrival of a child, or certain matters related to military service
Type of Leave
Length of Leave
Family Medical Leave Up to 12 weeks Parental Leave Up to 12/14 weeks (depending on employment category) Military Exigency Up to 12 weeks of leave Care for a Military Family Member Up to 26 weeks of leave
It’s important to note the maximum paid time off is, in general, 26 weeks within a 12-month period for any combination of personal medical and family leaves. Paid family and medical leaves run concurrently with any leave taken under applicable state and federal leave laws, including the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
The eligibility requirements, benefit duration and amounts of pay vary by employment category. In general, the pay benefit amount will be based on your earnings.
To learn more about the benefit that applies to you, please review the information on the following pages:
Application Process
The University’s Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits are administered by Matrix Absence Management. You may apply with Matrix Absence Management to request family or medical leave online or by phone at 877-202-0055. You will be contacted by a representative to review your application, including a request for any additional documentation that may be required.
Special Note for Faculty Members
When you anticipate taking a leave, you must also complete the Faculty Request for Non-Academic Leave of Absence Form and submit it to the chair of your department. Your chair is responsible for forwarding the form to the dean’s office. To initiate your leave, you should contact Matrix Absence Management directly.
State Required Notices
Massachusetts requires all employers to notify their employees about the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law. If you are new employee, you have 30 days following your hire date to notice receipt of the Paid Family and Medical Leave benefit notice here. Please also review the Required State Notice below, available both in English and 12 different translations.