Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy
(with Acknowledgment) (NC)

Summary

This template is a pregnancy and parental leave policy that has been tailored for employers subject to North Carolina state law. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and alternate and optional clauses. This template is intended for private employers and may be included in an employee handbook or distributed as a standalone policy. For a non-jurisdictional employee handbook, see Employee Handbook. This template's language is similar to the non-jurisdictional Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy (with Acknowledgment) except it complies with North Carolina law in addition to federal law. For a checklist concerning pregnancy and parental leave (also called parenting leave), see Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policy Checklist. In addition to pregnancy and parental leave protections under federal law, some states require employers to provide paid or unpaid pregnancy and parental leave. North Carolina is not one of those states. For information on states that may have these laws, see the Family, Medical, Sick, Pregnancy, and Military Leave column in Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Practice Notes Chart. For information on reasonable accommodations for pregnant or lactating workers under the Americans with Disabilities Act, see Americans with Disabilities Act: Guidance for Employers. See also Leave Law (NC) — Pregnancy Leave. For information about protections for lactating employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (which amended Section 7 Of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)) (29 USCS § 218d), see Lactation/Breastfeeding Policy, Compensable Time (FLSA) — Lactation / Nursing Accommodation / Breastfeeding Breaks, and Rest Break and Meal Period Policies (Including Break Time for Nursing Mothers): Key Drafting Tips. For information on state law requirements for break time for nursing mothers, see the Compensable Time column of Wage and Hour State Practice Notes Chart. For information on break time for nursing mothers in North Carolina, see Wage and Hour (NC) — Lactation/Nursing Accommodation. For information on requirements under North Carolina law concerning school-related leave, see Leave Law (NC) — School-Related Leave. For information on other state law requirements concerning school-related leave, see the Other Leaves column of Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Practice Notes Chart.