How Do I Apply?
- Submit your request for leave through Human Resources.
- File a Claim through Unum, our approved third-party insurer.
- Do not apply through the state of MN for your leave from Augsburg
- Apply using your personal e-mail address
- Watch for updates and additional requests from Unum regarding your leave
- Don’t want to file online? Printable Unum PFML Claim Form (PDF)
Who is Covered?
- All employees who
- work at least 50% in Minnesota and
- earn over 5.3% the statewide average yearly wage ($3,900 as of November 2025)
- This includes faculty, staff, adjunct faculty, and student employees
What Types of Leave are Covered?
All leaves are subject to Unum’s approval. Qualifying leaves lasting seven (7) or more days for the following reasons are covered under MN PFML :
Medical Leave
- Take care of yourself for a serious health condition.
- A serious health condition means a physical or mental illness, injury, impairment, condition, or substance use disorder.
- Taking care of yourself for this serious condition may involve evaluation, treatment, inpatient care, recovery, or not being able to perform regular work, attend school, or do regular daily activities.
- This includes childbirth, conditions related to pregnancy, or surgery.
Family Leave
- Bonding leave – to care for and bond with a new child welcomed through birth, adoption, or foster placement
- Caring leave – to care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Military family leave – to support a family member called to active duty
- Safety leave – to respond to issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
What Are the Benefits?
- Up to 20 weeks of combined leave per benefit year
- Up to 12 weeks of medical leave
- Up to 12 weeks of family leave
- A benefit year is a 52-week period that starts on the first day an employee is absent from work for a qualified reason.
- While on leave
- Job protection
- Insurance continuation
- Partial wage replacement (PFML Benefits Estimate Calculator)
Who Pays for this Benefit?
Employees and their employers share the cost of the benefit premiums.
- Augsburg will pay at least 50% of premiums
- Employees pay 0.44% of wages as a post-tax deduction
Can I “Top Off” My Wages?
Yes, employees may top off their PFML benefits using accrued sick and vacation time. Employees must share their top-off preferences with payroll@augsburg.edu.
| Wages | $20 / hr $41,600 / yr |
$25 / hr $52,000 / yr |
$37.50 / hr $78,000 / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Premium | $183 | $228 | $343 |
| Weekly Wage | $800 | $1,000 | $1,500 |
| MNPFML Benefit | $699 (87%) | $831 (83%) | $1,152 (77%) |
| Sick / Vacation to Top Off | 5.2 hrs | 6.8 hrs | 9.2 hrs |
| x 12 Weeks | 62.4 hrs | 81.6 hrs | 110.4 hrs |
What Does Parenting Leave Look Like?
If you are welcoming a child into your home through birth, adoption, or foster placement, you may be eligible for Bonding Leave. And if you are a birthing parent who needs time off to care for your health during pregnancy or after giving birth, you may be eligible for Medical Leave, too.
| Benefit Component | Birth Parent | Non-Birth Parent / Partner |
| Medical Leave | Up to 12 weeks* of Medical Leave immediately following childbirth. | N/A |
| Family (Bonding) Leave | Up to 12 weeks* of Family Leave (Bonding). Must be used within 12 months of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement. | Up to 12 weeks* of Family Leave (Bonding). Must be used within 12 months of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster placement. |
*Maximum combined leave per benefit year: 20 weeks.
How Have Sick Accruals Changed?
Accrued sick and vacation time can be used to “top off” PML and STD benefits. Faculty and Staff at or above 0.5 FTE will accrue at the following rates:
| Staff | Faculty | |
| Accrual Rate | 4 hours per pay period (pro-rated to FTE) | 48 hours per year, front-loaded at the beginning of the academic year |
| Maximum Accrual | 400 hours | 240 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Usage | Hourly: 15 minute increments Salaried: 4 hour increments |
Only use for leaves > 6 consecutive days |
Faculty accruals were retroactively credited on January 1, 2026. The faculty maximum accrual is lower than staff because sick leave does not need to be used for leaves under seven days.
What About Short-Term Disability?
Augsburg’s self-funded Short-Term Disability (STD) program provides 66% wage replacement for eligible employees (calculated before any sick/vacation top-off is applied).
| Feature | Details |
| Eligibility | Faculty and Staff at or above 0.5 FTE |
| Total Duration | Up to 26 weeks of partial wage replacement for a qualifying personal medical condition. |
| Coordination with Paid Medical Leave (PML) | STD runs concurrently with PML. |
| Wage Replacement Breakdown | First 12 Weeks: PML pays the initial benefit. If PML is less than 66% of your base wage, STD supplements the PML benefit to provide a total of 66% of the current base wage.
After 12 Weeks (PML Expiration): If you still qualify, you can receive an additional 14 weeks of STD benefits, providing 66% of your current base wage. |
| Long-Term Disability (LTD) | After 180 days of medical leave, you may apply for Long-Term Disability. |
How Are Leave Benefits Paid and Taxed?
Leave benefits will be paid through Augsburg’s regular biweekly payroll. Payroll will automatically withhold federal and state taxes on Family leave and the portion of Medical leave benefits attributable to the employer-paid premiums. (If the employer pays 60% of the premiums, 60% of the benefit is attributable to the employer and taxable).
How Are Other Leaves Impacted?
- Prior Paid Parent Leave benefits sunset on December 31, 2025
- Faculty medical & parental leave benefits are replaced by PFML and STD benefits
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) unpaid job protections run concurrently to MNPFML leaves
All changes will be considered “pilot” policies, which will be reviewed prior to December 31, 2026.
Where Can I Learn More?
- Contact Unum for information about filing claims.
- MN Paid Leave Website – Information only, Do Not Apply Through The State of MN
- MN Paid Family and Medical Leave Webinar Recording – November 21, 2025
What if I have Multiple Conditions in One Benefit Year?
You can take leave for more than one qualifying reason in the same year. However, leave covered by PFML is limited to 12 weeks of medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave, not to exceed 20 weeks combined, per benefit year.
Medical conditions longer than 12 weeks may be eligible for coverage under the short-term disability policy.
Leaves in excess of the PFML and short-term disability policies are subject to approval and may be unpaid.
Do I have to Take Leave All At Once?
No. You can take leave in a single block of time (continuous leave) or in smaller blocks of time (intermittent leave). Approved leaves may be taken in 4-hour increments.
- Medical (PML) & Family (FML)
- Reduced schedule (planned)
- Intermittent (episodic)
- Bonding
- Reduced schedule (planned)
For example,
- If you have surgery and need to be completely out of work for 6 weeks, that is a continuous leave.
- If you have a chronic condition or a family member who needs transportation to recurring treatments, you might only need to take a day or a few hours off each week. That is intermittent leave.
You should discuss what leave schedule you might need with your healthcare or service provider certifying your leave.
What if a qualifying event occurs during a scheduled break when I am not scheduled to work (ex: between academic terms)?
Employees on a nine-month appointment are not expected to perform work May 15 – August 15 and would not need to use PFML during that time. However, they would use PFML for leaves that overlap other breaks (such as winter break).
Staff do not receive paid holidays while on a qualifying leave.