Black & Veatch U.S. Parental Bonding Leave Policy

U.S. Parental Bonding Leave Policy

Policy

Paid parental bonding leave is provided by BVH, Inc. (the company), encouraging professionals to take time off work after the birth of a child(ren) to bond with the new child(ren). 

Eligibility for Parental Bonding Leave

Eligible Groups and Minimum Hours Requirement 

To be eligible for benefits, a professional must meet the following requirements: 

• Full-time professionals must be working a minimum of 40 hours per week. 
• Part-time professionals must be working a minimum of 30 hours per week.

NOTE: Normal vacation is considered active employment.  

Who is Eligible for Parental Bonding Leave? 

The non-birth parent of a newborn child born after the professional's date of hire with the company is eligible for paid parental bonding leave.  For parents of newly adopted child(ren) or child(ren) born via surrogacy, refer to the Adoption Bonding Leave policy.

When Does Coverage Begin? 

Professionals are eligible for coverage on their date of hire. If the employment start date is delayed, professionals are not covered until they are actively employed with the company.

When Does Coverage End? 

Coverage will end on the earliest of the following: 

• the date the policy is terminated
• the date the professional is no longer in an eligible group
• the last day the professional is actively employed or retires
• the date the professional dies

 What Happens if a Professional is on a Leave of Absence? 

Parental bonding leave may run concurrently with any Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, including any state or local leave benefits. For guidance on eligibility for FMLA leave, refer to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy. Professionals on parental bonding leave are not eligible to take the company’s paid maternity or adoption bonding leave for the same event. 

How Do Professionals Find Out if They are Eligible for Other Leave Benefits? 

When the professional requests parental bonding leave with MetLife, MetLife will advise the professional if they are eligible for any state leave benefits in addition to the parental bonding leave benefits. 

Summary of Parental Bonding Leave Benefits

Weekly Parental Bonding Leave Benefit Amount 

Beginning the day indicated on the Request for Leave of Absence form through four weeks (28 calendar days), benefits will be 100% of weekly earnings (gross salary or wages). Part-time professionals whose standard hours are 30-39 hours per week will receive a maximum of 30 hours per week of paid parental bonding. 

Beginning the day indicated on the Request for Leave of Absence form, parental bonding time must be taken consecutively and within the first six months from the child’s birth. Parental bonding leave must be exhausted in full by the end of the first six months. The benefit cannot extend into the seventh month after the child’s birth.

The maximum parental bonding period is four weeks (28 calendar days). The parental bonding period is not extended for multiple births (e.g., twins, triplets). 

Pay During Parental Bonding Leave  

The parental bonding leave benefit amounts will be based on a professional’s current base rate of pay, not counting bonuses, overtime pay or any other fringe benefits, as of the last day the professional was actively at work before the start of the parental bonding leave.

Maximum Period of Parental Bonding Leave Benefits 

The maximum parental bonding leave period is four weeks (28 calendar days). Parental bonding leave must be taken within the first six months from the date of birth. 

Parental Bonding Leave Benefit Provisions

What is the Difference Between the Company’s Paid Parental Bonding Leave and FMLA Bonding Leave?

Paid parental bonding leave is a benefit provided by the company to provide paid time off for care and bonding following the birth of a child.

The FMLA bonding leave is a federal regulation entitling eligible professionals to take unpaid, job-protected time off for care and bonding following the birth of a child. Refer to the FMLA policy for more details and eligibility requirements.

Parental bonding leave may run concurrently with any FMLA leave, including any state or local leave benefits.

When Will Parental Bonding Benefits Stop? 

The professional’s parental bonding leave benefits will end on the earliest of the following: 

• the date the professional returns to work before the end of the maximum parental bonding period
• the end of the maximum period of parental bonding benefits
• the date the professional dies
• the date the professional is no longer actively employed or retires

Professionals on parental bonding leave cannot engage in any other employment. 

Return to Work from Parental Bonding Leave 

Prior to returning to work from parental bonding leave, the professional must contact their Supervisor and Human Resources Partner five days before they expect to return to work for business planning purposes.

Until you return to work, you cannot conduct any work-related activities (e.g., checking and responding to work-related emails, participating in meetings, driving company vehicles). However, you are encouraged to initiate and respond to requests related to your company benefits, pay, and leave of absence as lack of timely response can impact benefits coverage, taxes, and continued absence (e.g., qualified life event benefits change submissions, W4 updates, beneficiary updates, approval for continued time off, return to active work status).

Holidays During Parental Bonding  

When holidays fall within paid parental bonding leave professionals will receive their leave pay instead of holiday pay. The leave period is not extended due to the holiday.

Health & Welfare Benefits Continuation During Parental Bonding Leave  

The professional’s current elections for health and welfare benefits will continue during parental bonding leave. The professional’s portion of contributions for health and welfare benefits will continue to be deducted from the professional’s paychecks during any period of time that the professional is receiving paid parental bonding benefits. 

Who Will Complete the Professional’s Timesheets While on Parental Bonding Leave? 

The company’s U.S. HR Support Center will notify the following persons (in addition to the professional) via email of the professional’s leave status.  

• Department Administrative Assistant 
• Supervisor and/or Department Head 
• Human Resources Partner 

This email will include the leave types approved, leave dates approved, anticipated date of return and detailed instructions for completing the professional’s timesheets during any period of approved absence. 

Professionals should coordinate with one of the above indicated persons to complete their timesheets during any period of approved absence.

Parental Bonding Leave Request Process

How Do Professionals Request Paid Parental Bonding Leave? 

Professionals should request parental bonding leave by completing the Request for Leave of Absence form. Completed forms should be submitted to the U.S. HR Support Center for processing.

If foreseeable, professionals should provide the company at least 30 days advance notice of their need for parental bonding leave. If unforeseeable, professionals should notify the company as soon as practicable of their need for parental bonding leave.

How Do Professionals Request FMLA Bonding Leave from MetLife? 

The company has engaged MetLife to provide certain administrative claims handling services for FMLA bonding benefits.