Leaves of Absence

At Harvard, your physical and emotional health – and that of your family – come first. That is why we offer family and medical leaves of absence and related benefits that provide the time and resources to address and heal from these challenges.

If you think that you may need a family or medical leave of absence, please contact the FAS Leaves Office at leaves@fas.harvard.edu as early as possible for assistance.

Taking Medical or Family Leave

The following family and medical leave benefits are offered to eligible Harvard employees:

  • Short Term Disability (STD) provides up to 26 weeks of paid leave for an employee’s own medical condition.
  • Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (MAPFML) provides paid medical leave for employee’s own serious health condition that incapacitates them from performing essential functions of their job for up to 20 weeks. MAPFML also provides Paid Family Leave for the following:
    • Up to 12 weeks of family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition.
    • Up to 12 weeks of family leave to bond with a child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement.
    • Up to 12 weeks because of any qualifying exigency arising out of the fact that a family member is on active duty or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty in the Armed Forces.
    • Up to 26 weeks to provide care to a family member who is a covered service member with a serious health condition.
      • The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job protected leave to eligible employees during a 12 month period for family or medical leave.

If you decide to apply for a leave, you do not need to choose which of the benefits you would like. Instead, our leave administrator, Lincoln Financial, will review your eligibility and may apply STD, MAPFML, and/or FMLA to run concurrently when applicable. If eligible for both STD and MAPFML for a medical leave, you will receive the higher paid benefit amount between the two.

Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave

Beginning in January 2021, Harvard University will offer all eligible employees paid family and medical leave, consistent with the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave policy (MAPFML). More information on University MAPFML benefits is available on HARVie.

Additional Resources

  • Planning for Your Leave. For purposes of your own planning as well as your departmental planning, it is important for you to communicate your anticipated need for family or medical leave to your Manager, Department Administrator, and to the FAS Leaves Office (leaves@fas.harvard.edu) as early as possible.
  • Transitioning your Work. Depending on your particular situation, you may or may not be able to help your department prepare for your leave.  Transitioning from work to leave and then back to work can be eased by planning and preparation.
  • What Happens When... includes guidelines regarding Harvard's parental leave policy and information on the benefits you may want or need to update as your family grows and your needs change.