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Work-Life

 

Family Care

Resources for Babysitting, Elder Care and More

The University of California has contracted with SelectPlus to aid faculty and staff in meeting their caregiver needs. SelectPlus is a web-based resource to help employees find and select pre-screened, in-home care for children, adults and even pets. SelectPlus also offers access to tutors, housekeepers and other care providers. Employees can select the local caregiver that is right for them.

Upon registering for SelectPlus online, eligible faculty and staff can search for caregivers using a direct search based on employee specified criteria, post jobs for caregivers, read caregiver profiles and reviews, rate caregivers, check caregiver references, and view background checks for their preferred caregivers.

Most faculty and staff who are eligible for UC benefits are also eligible to access SelectPlus. Eligibility for SelectPlus begins on the first day an employee becomes eligible for UC sponsored benefits. However, new employees will not be able to register online until approximately four weeks after they become eligible. For those newly hired employees who need to find a caregiver immediately, they may contact SelectPlus customer service. For our represented employees, the SelectPlus benefit is subject to collective bargaining. Some unions have already entered into agreement with the University to offer this benefit to its members. Information on which unions have entered into such agreements is available on the UCOP At Your Service website.

Access to SelectPlus is free to all eligible faculty and staff. Employees work directly with their caregivers of choice regarding price and payment for care services.

For more information on childcare resources, please visit:
Bright Horizons Care Advantage

UC Merced Childcare and School Information

Lactation Accommodations

Congratulations on your upcoming or recent arrival!  The University is committed to promoting a family-friendly work environment by providing programs and services to help employees achieve success at work and in their personal lives. To that effect, employees and management are encouraged to be accepting of nursing mothers, and departments will provide a location and a reasonable amount of time to accommodate their lactation needs pursuant to state laws.

Research continues to affirm the health and wellness benefits of providing human breast milk to babies, these benefits include:

  • Stronger immune systems to defend against bacteria and viruses
  • Nutrients designed to enhance brain and physical development
  • Unique opportunities for parent and child bonding.

Affordable Care Act

Affordable Care Act - effective January 1, 2013, UC's medical plans will be providing breastfeeding support, supplies (including breast pumps) and counseling at no cost. For more information on how this measure will affect you, please contact your medical plan.

For more information on available plans click here.

Effective March 23, 2010 the Federal Health Care Reform Act requires the following:

  • A “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.”
  • A “place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.”
  • A reasonable amount of break time to express milk as frequently as needed by the nursing mother. The frequency of breaks needed to express milk as well as the duration of each break will likely vary.

Lactation Rooms:

On-campus

See Map

  • Kolligian Library:  1st Floor of Kolligian Library.  The room is to the right of the restrooms (signs states “Shower”).  The key to access the Lactation Room is located at the Students First desk on the first floor of the Kolligian Library.
  • Science and Engineering Building 2:  3rd Floor, SOE2-312
  • Social Sciences and Management Building:  2nd Floor, SSM-214
  • Student Activities and Athletic Center:  1st Floor, Adjacent Room in Women's Restroom (Unlocked at all times and can be locked from the interior while in use) 
  • Student Services Building (SSB):  2nd Floor, Lactation Room #2T3 includes a baby changing table inside.

Off-campus

  • Castle:  Room 108
  • Fresno Center:  2nd Floor, Suite 230, Office 26
  • Merced Tri-College Center:  From the reception area main entrance, the Lactation Room is the 2nd door on your right, room # TC3-E.
  • Promenade:  Suite M, Room 130

These are private, clean, and safe areas for the purpose of expressing breast milk and/or breastfeeding.  The space will be in close proximity to the nursing mother’s work area, generally not more than a 5-7 minute walk.

To Request Access Click Here

For questions about the Lactation Rooms, please contact Esmeralda Martinez in the Academic Personnel Office at (209) 228-4615.

Responding to a Request for Time Away from Work to Express Milk

Supervisors are encouraged to work within University policies hours of work to accommodate employees who wish to express milk during work hours. Generally, nursing mothers need 2-3 lactation breaks during an 8-hour work period. A reasonable amount of time for a lactation break generally will not exceed 30 minutes per break and includes the time associated with travel to and from the lactation space, expressing milk, clean up, and storage.

Decisions should therefore be made on a case by case basis. Consider schedule options that would accommodate this leave time, and still allow for business needs to be accomplished. A variety of flexible work arrangements can be used for the purpose of accommodating lactation time, such as alternate start/stop times to the workday, rearranging break periods, etc.

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