Total Rewards: Enhancements to Bereavement Leave, Parental Leave Program and a New Personal/Family Support Leave Offering
In the fall of 2022, Creighton administered the Total Rewards Survey to better understand compensation and benefits programs that faculty and staff value most. The survey addressed compensation benefits, retirement, time off, services, workplace experience and more.
Based upon the findings of the survey, enhancements to Creighton’s personal and family support leave offerings for benefit-eligible employees were made, effective on Jan. 1, 2024, around the following: Bereavement Leave, Parental Leave and Personal/Family Support Leave.
“I am pleased to introduce these new enhancements to Creighton’s leave offerings. These adjustments are based on the feedback faculty and staff provided as part of our Total Rewards survey, and these leave enhancements help meet employee needs identified in the survey,” said Creighton President the Rev. Daniel S. Hendrickson, SJ, PhD.
Following are details about the enhancements.
Bereavement Leave – Starting on Jan. 1, 2024, Creighton extends bereavement leave to up to five (5) consecutive days of paid University Funeral/Bereavement Leave for an immediate family member, defined as an employee’s: spouse or civil union partner; children, including biological, ward, grandchild, child of civil union partner, adopted, step, foster or any child for the employee stands in loco parentis (in [the] place of a parent); parents (biological, step, adopted, in-law, parents of civil union partner); and siblings (biological, half, adopted or step).
An additional enhancement to bereavement leave for eligible employees is the offering of one (1) to three (3) days of paid Funeral/Bereavement Leave for a relative other than those who are not an immediate family member. Individuals who are not considered immediate family members are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or cousin of the employee or their spouse.
Read more about the enhanced Bereavement Leave Time Off and Leave Options
Parental Leave – Starting on Jan. 1, 2024, Creighton extends paid parental leave for the birth or adoptive parent(s) of a child to six (6) weeks.
Read more about the enhanced Parental Leave Policy effective Jan. 1, 2024
Personal/Family Support Leave of Absence (PFSL) – This new unpaid leave benefit, effective Jan. 1, 2024, offers unpaid time off generally used in situations not covered by other types of University leave programs to support employees in being away from work for three (3) days or up to two (2) consecutive weeks for personal matters and/or family support related needs. (An employee seeking PFSL for a qualifying reason must first use all eligible accruals.)
Read more about the enhanced Personal/Family Support Leave of Absence Options
More on Total Rewards
The Total Rewards Survey was developed following feedback from the University’s 2021 Campus Climate Survey, which canvassed faculty, staff and students on how well the University was meeting its mission of providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
More than 50% of faculty and staff completed the Total Rewards Survey and based on those responses the University created an action plan for next steps and identified areas of emphasis moving forward.
As part of the action plan, Creighton expanded tuition remission benefits for employees (effective May 2023) and is conducting a compensation review (Phase 1 completed in August 2023; Phase 2 currently taking place with a tentative timeline to be completed in March 2024).
University leaders and committee members will continue to review findings from the Total Rewards Survey and make recommendations for employee rewards that align with Creighton’s objectives to attract, reward and retain outstanding faculty and staff.