Support Resources
Parenting
As part of the Mason community, you have a host of benefits and resources to support your family. You can find these benefits and resources by downloading the complete Parent Guide for Mason employees.
Are you a student?
If you are a student in need of parenting resources and support, Contemporary Student Services is here to help! Visit the Parenting and Expecting Students webpage for more information created specifically for students.
Contact the Benefits team to discuss leave options.
Familiarize yourself with relevant Mason policies (i.e. Paid Parental Leave, Family Medical Leave, Disability, Flexible Work, etc.).
Supplement unpaid FMLA status with eligible paid leave. Visit our FMLA page or speak with the Benefits team to discuss your eligibility.
Share your leave plan with your supervisor and department.
Discuss the use of flexible work options with your supervisor to ease the transitions back to work after your child is born/adopted.
Look into the prenatal care programs offered by your health plan. For Mason health plans, please see health insurance at Mason.
Consider your lactation options. Remember that your breast pump and supplies may be covered by your health insurance.
Consider joining the Working Moms or Working Dads Support Groups.
If you are in need of a pregnancy accommodation, please reach out to the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at dei@gmu.edu.
Within 60 Days of Birth/Adoption:
Follow up with your Benefits Administrator at Mason
Add your child to your health insurance plan
Consider enrolling in or increasing your Dependent Care and/or Health Flexible Spending Account election amounts
Other Things to Consider:
Beneficiary changes to life insurance, wills, and trust documents
If applicable, talk with your supervisor to arrange lactation space before your return to work
Stop by HR & Payroll to pick up your one-of-a-kind Mason baby hat for your new Patriot
It is the policy of George Mason University and the Commonwealth of Virginia to provide paid parental leave to eligible faculty and staff to assist them in managing work and family obligations surrounding the birth or placement of a new child. The goal of parental leave is to enhance the family-friendly practices already in place at the University while supporting new parents with meaningful bonding time with their child.
Classified Staff
Eligibility
Full-time and part-time classified employees who become parents via birth, adoption, or foster or custodial care placement may take parental leave provided they are eligible for FMLA coverage.
Employees have six (6) months from the date of birth or placement to take parental leave. Those not eligible on the date of birth or placement may become eligible during the following six (6) months and access parental leave once he/she meets the eligibility requirements.
Leave Amount
Up to 320 hours of paid parental leave are available for full-time classified staff. Those working part-time will be allocated a prorated amount as appropriate.
The birthing parent may use parental leave to supplement Virginia Sickness & Disability Program benefits attributable to a delivery and recovery following the birth of a newborn.
Paid parental leave runs concurrently with the FMLA period. It may be used in conjunction with other paid and unpaid leave for the full FMLA period.
Leave Usage
Employees should contact a Benefits Administrator at least thirty (30) days in advance of the leave period to begin the parental leave process. Proof of birth or legal custody documentation will be required.
Parental leave can be used starting from the date of birth/placement of the child. Employees have six (6) months from that date to take the leave. Any unused hours after six (6) months will be forfeited. Holidays and weekends cannot be used to extend the parental leave usage window. For example, an employee whose baby was born on July 10, 2018 has until January 10, 2019 to use up their parental leave allotment.
Parental leave can only be used once per child. If both parents work for the University and meet the eligibility criteria, each is entitled to up to 320 hours of parental leave.
Parental leave is to be used in a continuous period of time with only one break permitted. It may not be used in place of flexible work arrangements or to reduce the work schedule.
Please see DHRM Policy 4.21 for more information.
Faculty: Administrative & Professional, Research and 12-Month Instructional
Eligibility
Administrative & Professional, Research, and 12-month Instructional faculty who become parents via birth, adoption, or foster or custodial care placement may take parental leave provided they work at least 20 hours a week and are eligible for FMLA coverage.
Faculty members have twelve (12) months from the date of the birth or placement to take parental leave. Those not eligible on the date of birth or placement may become eligible during the following twelve (12) months and access parental leave once he/she meets the eligibility requirements.
Leave Amount
Up to 320 hours of paid parental leave are available for full-time faculty. Those working part-time will be allocated a prorated amount as appropriate.
The birthing parent may use parental leave to supplement Virginia Sickness & Disability Program benefits attributable to a delivery and recovery following the birth of a newborn.
Paid parental leave runs concurrently with the FMLA period. It may be used in conjunction with other paid and unpaid leave for the full FMLA period.
Leave Usage
Parental leave can be used starting from the date of birth/placement of the child. Employees have twelve (12) months from that date to take the leave. Any unused hours after twelve (12) months will be forfeited.
Parental leave terminates at the conclusion of the foster or custodial care placement or within twelve (12) months of the placement, whichever comes first.
Parental leave may be used only once per child and only once within a twelve (12) month period. If both parents work for the University and meet the eligibility criteria, each is entitled to up to 320 hours of parental leave.
Eligible faculty members may charge parental leave in one continuous period of time or in two leave periods of at least one (1) week.
Faculty members should submit a written request to his/her department and Benefits in HR & Payroll for parental leave at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the anticipated leave begin date or as soon as practicable.
Please see University Policy #2230 for more information.
Faculty: 9-month Instructional
Eligibility
Instructional 9-month term, tenure-track and tenured faculty who become parents via birth, adoption, or foster or custodial care placement may take parental leave provided they have been continuously employed for at least one (1) academic year since hire and/or since the end of the last parental leave period(s).
Leave Usage
During the parental leave period(s), the faculty member is eligible for full pay and benefits but with a Work Relief Combination. The Work Relief Combination can be taken 100% in one semester, 50% in two semesters or some other Work Relief Combination that makes sense for the faculty member and the department.
Parental leave may be used only once per child and only once within a twelve (12) month period. Multiple births or placements will be treated as one event.
The University encourages faculty members to work with their department chairs and/or deans to coordinate the specific arrangements of the reduced work schedule.
Please see University Policy #2230 for more information.
SitterCity
Faculty, staff, and graduate students receive a complimentary subscription to Bright Horizons Care Advantage’s Sittercity resource – a comprehensive database of in-home childcare caregivers. To activate your free membership, visit the membership website.
Mason Child Development Center (CDC)
The Child Development Center serves faculty, staff, and students at the university, with enrollment on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit cdc.gmu.edu or email cdc@gmu.edu.
Mason offers private spaces on each campus to accommodate nursing parents. While we do have dedicated spaces for lactation on campus, we understand that convenience is important as well. Please contact your department's HR Liaison for information about other possible locations in and around your building.
If you are a student in need of a lactation room separate from the spaces listed, please contact Alissa Karton at akarton@gmu.edu.
COVID-19 Precautions
All rooms are equipped with cleaning wipes and hand sanitizer dispensers. Additionally, the rooms are being cleaned on a regular basis.
Nursing parents are encouraged to wear a mask when using the lactation rooms and to wipe down surfaces before and after each use.
Fairfax Campus
Horizon Hall – 4th Floor, Room 4005
This room is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please lock the door when you are using the space. If you encounter any issues with the space, please contact worklife@gmu.edu.
Johnson Center - Ground Floor Ladies Room
Available during JC operating hours on a first-come, first-served basis. Please lock the door when you are using the space.
Merten Hall - 4th floor, HR & Payroll Office
Available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. If you encounter any issues with the space, please contact worklife@gmu.edu.
Nguyen Engineering Building - Private Office
This lactation space is an internal office within the Nguyen Engineering Building. All who need access should contact Patricia Sahs at psahs@gmu.edu, at least one day in advance to request use of the space. Availability for the space will vary based on use of the office. If you experience issues with this space, please contact Patricia Sahs.
Peterson Hall - 2nd Floor, Room 2414A
This room will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please lock the door when you are using the space. If you encounter any issues with the space, please contact worklife@gmu.edu.
SUB I - Room 1004 (to the left of the Mason Student Services Center)
Available during SUB I operating hours. This room will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please lock the door when you are using the space. If you experience any issues with this space, please visit the SUB I information desk.
Mason Square
Van Metre Hall - Room 323A
Available in accordance with building hours, currently 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Please lock the door when you are using the space. If you experience any issues with this space, please contact 703-993-2095 or arlops@gmu.edu.
Science and Technology Campus
Colgan Hall Lactation Room, Room 209
Please fill out the online request form to register to use this space. Upon registration you will be scheduled for a brief orientation where you will receive a unique Omnilock code to unlock the room. Please contact Michael Galvin or Kerry Hentges if you experience any issues with the space.
Student Health Services - Colgan Hall, Room 229 (Student Health Services)
To request access the lactation room during business hours, please go to Executive Office Room 217 (Colgan Hall). Please contact 703-993-8355 or 703-993-8370 if you need access or experience any issues with the space.
Life/Work Disclaimer
Mason does not own, sponsor, or endorse Bright Horizons Care Advantage. It is your responsibility to carefully screen and check the references of any caregivers, including those who are listed on Bright Horizons Care Advantage, before you retain their services.
George Mason Life/Work compiles these resources and programs for use as referral only. Mason does not recommend or endorse any company or organization listed. By providing this information, the University assumes no financial or other responsibility for any relationship established by and between any company or organization listed on the work/life website and any other individual.