Notify your supervisor and/or department administrator of your intention to take Maternity Leave at least 30 days prior to your anticipated leave date.
You should review the Northwestern website for our Maternity Leave and Extended Sick Time policies. Also, if you have one-year of full-time benefits-eligible role immediately prior to your leave, you should review Northwestern’s Birth and Adoption Parental Leave policy.
If you are enrolled in University Health PPO plans, Ovia Health can guide you step-by-step through fertility, pregnancy and parenting. These include Ovia Fertility, Ovia Pregnancy Tracker and Ovia Parenting (download** one or all the apps in iTunesSM or the Google PlaySM store to get started). All programs include in-app support from a registered nurse. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you’ll also get phone support from a BCBSIL maternity specialist. Get started today!
Follow the steps outlined in the Hartford flyer to set up your leave claim. Begin by calling The Hartford at 1-888-541-7283 to start the process at least one month prior to your anticipated due date. Be prepared to provide the following information:
Name, Address, and other key identification information
Name of your department and your last day of active work
Your treating physician’s name, address, and phone and fax numbers
Provide instructions to your HR Representative as to how you would like your timecard completed for any portion of your leave not covered by our Extended Sick Time Benefit (EST), or Birth and Adoption Parental Leave Benefit (BAPL). Mothers have the option of using Vacation, Personal Floating Holiday, or Unpaid Time for the remainder of leave after these benefits are applied.
If you are using commuter benefits, please review Commuter Benefit Information. Visit payflex.com to turn off commuter benefits that will not be needed while on leave.
Contact the Well-being team to discuss resources that can help with finding and paying for childcare; effectively transitioning to and from parental leave; work-life integration and more.
After your child's birth
Contact The Hartford at 1-888-541-7283 to let them know you have delivered the baby.
If you are enrolled in Northwestern's medical coverage, review the process for adding your child to your medical, dental, and/or vision coverage, as well as information about child life insurance, and our dependent care flexible spending account.
Review all documentation sent from The Hartford and respond to any inquiries or requests.
Keep in contact with The Hartford in regards to any changes in your maternity leave plan or medical complications.
Just before returning to work
Schedule a time to talk with your supervisor to discuss your return to work date. It can be helpful to start back to work at the end of the week to ease the transition, if possible.
If your child will be enrolled in childcare, you can schedule his/her first day prior to your return to work date. You can ease your child in by starting with a few hours and building up to the regular schedule.
After returning to work
E-Mail Benefits at askHR@Northwestern.edu to confirm your return to work so you can be returned from leave in the myHR system.
Visit payflex.com to reactivate commuter benefits. Please note that changes must be made by the 5th of the month to take effect the following month.
If interested in enrolling in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, follow process for changing your benefits within 31 days of your return to work. If family AGI is below $130,000.00, you may be eligible for University matching funds. If eligible, and you are enrolling in the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, please complete and submit the Dependent Care Match Application and return along with the Benefits Change Form.
Financial planning for new parents
Update (or create) your will and estate planning documents. Resources for Online Will Preparation are available through the Dearborn National Life Insurance. For information, call 800-348-4512 or visit www.dearbornnational.com.
Consider starting a 529 or Coverdell educational savings account for your child’s future. Both allow your contributions to grow tax-free for qualified expenses. Resources are available from Fidelity Investments at www.fidelity.com and TIAA at www.tiaa.org.