Pregnancy disability leave (maternity leave)

Stanford’s pregnancy disability leave policy for faculty is designed so that the responsibilities of work need not cause concern for faculty members. Stanford’s leave policy is governed by California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, which allows for leave of up to four months due to medically certified, pregnancy-related disability. The length of pregnancy disability leave is determined by the faculty member’s physician, who certifies the number of weeks that she is disabled, both before and after delivery. The faculty member must apply for short-term disability insurance. Stanford will continue to pay the difference between the short-term disability payment and the faculty member’s academic salary for the first 90 days of disability. Stanford will continue its usual contribution to group medical and dental health plans. For more information about pregnancy disability leave, see the Life Events and Leaves sections on the Benefits website.

Department chairs and deans are expected to routinely approve requests for pregnancy disability leave. Sabbatical leaves are intended for professional development and should not be used for maternity-related leave.

The tenure clock does not stop for pregnancy disability leave per se, but a faculty member on pregnancy disability leave can request a new-parent tenure clock extension by submitting the request form. For additional information, contact Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@stanford.edu or call (650) 723-3622.