Know Your Rights!

While the institutions highlighted in the post on family-friendly policies are impressive and serve as important resources when considering implementing or changing your institutions policies OR when going on the job market, most institutions are just beginning to consider work-life balance issues. Most institutions (although certainly not all) have a "stop the tenure clock" policy but have yet to consider childcare assistance, leave to care for elderly parents, part-time tenure-track appointments etc.

What likely happens in the case of a tenure-track faculty having a child is that the decisions for accommodations are made by one or two individuals, such as department chairs or deans. I am reminded of a woman who was instructed to go to the dean because he/she had all the decision-making power for all accommodations. My institution only had a "stop the tenure clock" policy and did not provide any additional services nor was my department chair proactive in helping me devise an individualized plan.

The only way, as far as I can tell, to get certain accommodations is to know your rights. Here is what I found and suggest:

1. Every higher education institution must adhere to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which provides a minimum of 12 weeks off unpaid. Hopefully, your institution provides the 6 weeks off paid (at least).
2. Faculty handbooks outline all the policies for taking leaves -- read it! You should find information about the process for taking a year off the tenure track, for example.
3. Contact human resources if you are worried about talking about your rights with the department chair. Also, HR can provide information about medical insurance.
4. Use networks around the campus to see what other departments/colleges/universities offer. There is no shame in using the competitive spirit of a department or college for your advantage.