Guide for Parents and Families for Duke Benefits and Support Programs

Guide for Parents &

Families for Duke benefits and support programs

We know that being a parent can be exceptionally rewarding, as well as challenging at times. As a Duke employee, you have access to a wide range of benefits and support programs to help you along the way. We even have eldercare programs to help you support your parents and loved ones when they need assistance later in life.

Duke Human Resources provides information and assistance in balancing work and family responsibilities, parenting and other family concerns. You can find more details at hr.duke.edu/benefits/family.

Tyra Allen, Nursing Care Assistant, Duke Endocrinology Clinic, and her husband, Marcus Allen, brought their son, Adonis, to his first Duke Football game as part of the Employee Kickoff Celebration.”

New and Expectant Parents

 Infertility Benefits: Two of Duke’s health insurance plans offer comprehensive infertility benefits through Duke Fertility Center after two years of full-time, continuous service.

 Paid Parental Leave: Duke provides up to six consecutive weeks of 100 percent paid parental leave to eligible parents following the birth or adoption of a child.

 Lactation Support Services: Duke recognizes the importance and benefits of breastfeeding infants and has made special accommodations to support new mothers as part of its commitment to providing a family-friendly work environment.

 Prenatal Classes: The Teer House is proud to offer prenatal classes to Duke employees. These classes cover a wide array of topics, including labor and delivery, baby care, breast-feeding, and child/ infant safety.

 Health Insurance: Duke offers four different medical plans with various coverage options to meet the needs of you and your family.

 Support Groups: The Teer House offers a listing of support groups for new and expectant parents. These groups are sponsored by various departments throughout Duke University Medical Center and the community.

My husband and I raced to Duke University Hospital when my water broke at 33 weeks. After an emergency c-section a few days later, our twins were born. The next day, I had some hemorrhaging complications—which was the scariest part of the entire experience—and let’s say I never knew until that week how fortunate we were not only to be at an amazing hospital, but to also have great health insurance.”

Sarah Gaither Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

Child Care & Support

 Duke Child Care Partnership: Parents who work at Duke University and Duke University Health System have greater access to quality child care through the Duke Child Care Partnership.

 On-site Child Care at Duke: Duke faculty, staff and students have two options for on-site child care at Duke: the Duke Children's Campus and The Little School at Duke.

 Dependent Care Reimbursement Account: Duke offers you a Dependent Care Reimbursement Account to help you take advantage of tax savings on eligible dependent care expenses for children up to age 13.

 Choosing Child Care: Choosing a nanny, babysitter, after school program or summer camp for your child is an important decision. Staff and Family Programs has put together a basic guide to help parents screen, ask questions, and check references for potential care givers.

 Spouse & Children Resources: Resources from the International House, Division of Student Affairs.

Child care can be enormously expensive. Being able to put that money away pre-tax was incredibly helpful. It was very easy to use the Dependent Care Reimbursement benefit. It was pretty seamless.”

Aimee Zaas Duke Professor of Medicine

Time Away from Duke

 Paid Parental Leave: Duke provides up to six consecutive weeks of 100 percent paid parental leave to eligible parents following the birth or adoption of a child.

 Remote/Hybrid Work Arrangements: There are many instances of flexible work arrangements at Duke today. Formal guidelines have been developed to help support supervisors and employees in establishing these arrangements.

 Holidays, Vacation & Sick Time: Campus and Medical Center staff accrue benefit time using a traditional vacation, holiday, and sick time model.

 Paid Time Off (DUHS): Duke University Health System (DUHS) provides a Paid Time Off (PTO) program for eligible employees which puts vacation, sick leave, holiday, and funeral leave into one program.

 Leaves of Absence: Duke recognizes that during a regular staff member's career circumstances may arise which require a prolonged leave of absence from work. A leave of absence requires the approval of the requesting employee's department.

 Other Work Absences: Duke also provides for other types of work absences, including workers' compensation, funeral leave, voting time, jury duty leave, flexible work arrangements, and Family Medical Leave.

I am grateful to Duke for its parental leave policy. Those first few months of a newborn and new family dynamic are intense and emotional and wonderful, and I am thankful I could take that time to be with my family.”

Catherine Liao Associate Vice President Duke Health Government Relations

Elder Care and Retirement

 Duke Family Support Program: The Duke Family Support Program serves families and professionals concerned about or caring for persons with memory disorders in North Carolina, and Duke employees seeking help with elder care decisions. The Duke Family Support Program also provides elder care referrals and resources to Duke faculty and staff who need assistance with an aging parent. As a Duke employee, your benefits include a free, personalized, confidential consultation with one of our experts in aging. These consultations are simple, flexible and convenient. There’s no red tape. Call 919-660-7510 to schedule an appointment.

 Retirement Plans: Duke offers comprehensive retirement plans that allow employees to save for retirement and pay less in taxes now as the money invested in these accounts and the interest earned is tax-deferred (or tax-sheltered).

 Duke University Retiree Association (DURA): The Duke University Retiree Association (DURA) exists to provide meaningful opportunities for Duke retirees to stay connected with Duke and visit with friends and former colleagues through the DURA newsletter and DURA events.

Caring for a loved one with dementia is a journey fraught with sorrow, frustration and many, many lessons. The Duke Family Support Program provided a safe and supportive community in which to give a voice to those sorrows and frustrations, and a place to share and learn lessons from other people who are going through something very similar.”

Debra Kelly Senior Research Agreements Manager, Duke School of Medicine

Counseling & Referrals

 Personal Assistance Service (PAS): Personal Assistance Service is the faculty/employee assistance program of Duke University and Health System. Our staff of licensed professionals offer assessment, short-term counseling (up to 8 sessions), and referrals to help resolve a range of personal, work, and family problems. PAS services are available at no charge to Duke faculty and staff, and their immediate family members.

To schedule an appointment with a PAS counselor, call 919-416-1727, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Out-of-state employees have services provided through Business Health Services (BHS) by calling 800-327-2251.

The benefits that you receive are based upon the plan’s official plan documents, not this guide or any other written or oral statement. If there is a conflict between this guide and the official plan documents, the official plan documents will govern in all cases. Duke reserves the right at any time to change or terminate these plans.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens in the heart of Duke’s campus offers serenity, exquisite plantings and shaded benches where you can gather and reflect.