**FLYER**

**051-293**

**June 13, 2001**

**TO: Chief, HRMS**

**SUBJ: Survey on Parental Leave**

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been directed by Congress
to develop one or more alternative means for providing Federal employees
with at least 6 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the
birth or adoption of a child. This leave alternative will be apart from
any other paid leave category. OPM has to submit a report Congress by
September 30, 2001, with recommendations and findings as to whether paid
parental leave can be expected to\--

(1) Curtail the rate at which Federal employees are being lost to the
    private sector;

(2) Generally help the government in its recruitment and retention
    efforts;

(3) Reduce turnover and replacement costs; and

(4) Contribute to parental involvement during a child\'s formative
    years.

Therefore, OPM is soliciting the views of the Federal Human Resources
Management community on (1) whether paid parental leave could be
expected to help the Federal government in its recruitment and retention
efforts, and (2) whether a new leave entitlement would make it more
difficult for Federal agencies to accomplish their missions. In
soliciting the views of other Federal agencies, OPM has forwarded the
attached survey for completion.

**[Please take a few minutes to compete the survey and return it to this
office not later than June 22, 20001]{.underline}**. In considering your
opinions, we will prepare a consolidated response to the survey for the
Department of Veterans Affairs. You may e-mail your response to
<Katie.McCullough-Bradshaw@mail.va.gov> or send it by fax at (202)
273-9776.

Should you have additional questions, you may call Katie McCullough at
(202) 273-9836.

Work Life Programs & Benefits Division

Office of Human Resources Management

VA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20420

Attachment

## Survey on Parental Leave

1.  Does your agency believe offering 6 weeks of paid parental leave for
    childbirth or adoption would reduce the number of employees who are
    leaving to work in the private sector?

2.  Does your agency believe offering 6 weeks of paid parental leave for
    childbirth or adoption would improve its ability to recruit
    qualified personnel?

3.  Are employees of your agency or candidates for employment citing the
    lack of paid parental leave as their reason for leaving or refusing
    Federal employment?

4.  Do current Federal leave programs provide employees of your agency
    with sufficient paid time off for childbirth and adoption purposes?
    Employees may use various combinations of annual leave and sick
    leave for childbirth and adoption, as follows:

-   A birth mother may use her sick leave for periods of incapacitation
    resulting from pregnancy and childbirth.

-   A birth father may use his sick leave (up to a total of 12 weeks
    each year) to care for the birth mother during periods of
    incapacitation.

-   Birth parents may use annual leave to care for the newborn.

-   Under an agency's leave transfer/leave bank programs,

> \--a birth mother may use donated annual leave for periods of
> incapacitation
>
> resulting from pregnancy and childbirth or to care for a newborn child
> who
>
> requires attention because of a medical emergency.
>
> \--a birth father may use donated annual leave to care for the birth
> mother during
>
> periods of incapacitation or to care for a newborn child who requires
> attention
>
> because of a medical emergency.

-   Adoptive parents may use sick leave for purposes related to the
    adoption of a child. Adoptive parents also may use donated annual
    leave to care for an adopted child who requires attention because of
    a medical emergency.

-   Birth or adoptive parents may use up to 12 weeks of sick leave each
    year to care for a child with a serious health condition.

-   Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA), Federal
    employees are entitled to a total of up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave
    during any 12-month period for childbirth or adoption. Employees may
    substitute annual leave for unpaid leave for these purposes.

5.  Would providing 6 weeks of paid parental leave cause staffing
    problems or create other hardships in your agency? Please explain.

6.  How might this new paid leave benefit affect your agency's
    competitiveness with private contractors\--for example, when bidding
    against private contractors that do not offer

6 weeks of paid parental leave?

2

7.  What alternatives can you recommend for providing Federal employees
    with 6 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child? For
    example:

-   Permit employees to use sick leave to care for a healthy newborn or
    newly adopted child.

-   Permit employees to use donated annual leave to care for a healthy
    newborn or newly adopted child.

-   Permit employees to donate and receive sick leave under an agency's
    leave transfer and bank programs for the birth or adoption of a
    child.

-   Permit employees to substitute sick leave for unpaid leave under the
    FMLA to care for a healthy newborn or adopted child.

-   Permit agencies to advance 30 days of annual leave for birth or
    adoption purposes.

-   Establish a short-term disability program for birth and adoption
    purposes.

-   Credit new employees with xx amount of paid parental leave that may
    be used for birth and adoption purposes. Require employees to refund
    paid parental leave with accrued annual leave within a certain
    period of time.

-   Other. (Please specify.)

8.  Please indicate the order of importance of the following in your
    agency's recruitment and/or retention efforts (#1 being most
    important, #10 being the least).

> ( ) Pay
>
> ( ) Challenging work
>
> ( ) Opportunities for training
>
> ( ) Opportunities for advancement
>
> ( ) Flexible work schedule/telecommuting arrangements
>
> ( ) Paid time off for personal needs
>
> ( ) Paid time off to care for a sick/injured family member
>
> ( ) Paid parental leave for birth/adoption
>
> ( ) Retirement benefits
>
> ( ) Health benefits and life insurance

9.  Other comments?