The BWPO Executive Committee recently approved a new Maternity Leave policy for female physicians employed by the BWPO. This policy also extends to women physicians and PhD researchers employed by BWH. The policy was developed under the direction of Ron Walls, MD, chairman of the Maternity Leave Sub-Committee of the BWPO Benefits Committee, over a two-year period in consultation with BWH leadership. Dr. Walls, and Carol Nadelson, MD, director of the Office of Women’s Careers, led the effort to achieve approval of a maternity policy that sets a reasonable standard for a nationally recognized academic medical center.
The policy is a reflection of the BWPO’s commitment to providing a supportive work environment for women and their families. It provides an equitable benefit across all departments, while providing each department the ability to determine its own funding mechanism.
Female professional staff are eligible for an eight week paid leave from work following birth or adoption of a child (as part of the twelve week FMLA unpaid leave). Benefit continuation will be provided during the paid leave, and administrative, on-call, teaching and academic duties shall be fulfilled in proportion to the number of months not on leave.
This new benefit applies to eligible women physicians and PhD researchers on leave as of April 1, 2001. For details or information on eligibility please contact Virginia Rosales at ext. 2-7436 vrosales@partners.org