Parental Leaves
ASEs and GSRs are guaranteed up to 8 weeks of paid parental leave via your Long-Term Leave pool, the same length of leave as postdocs, career researchers, and faculty at UC. This leave applies both during pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions and for bonding with a newborn or adopted/fostered child.
ASEs and GSRs can use a total of 4 months of pregnancy disability leave. To receive pay during that leave, you can elect to use 8 weeks of Long-Term Leave and any available Short-Term leave and Personal Time Off. Otherwise, the leave is unpaid.
ASEs and GSRs also have a right to leave in the event of reproductive loss, a new right in this contract. Following a reproductive loss event, you can take up to 5 days of leave. Short-Term Leave, Long-Term Leave, and Personal Time Off can be used to receive pay during the leave. Otherwise, the leave is unpaid.
For more details on all of the leave entitlements, visit the Leaves/PTO page.
Child Dependent Healthcare
The vast majority of ASEs and GSRs are eligible to receive assistance for child dependent healthcare, either through a UC SHIP premium remission guaranteed in our contract or through Medi-Cal for Kids, the State of California’s medical assistance program. If your appointment includes UC SHIP premium remission – meaning that you are either a graduate employee or an undergraduate TA working 25% FTE (10 hours per week) or more – follow the guide and table below to get dependent healthcare costs covered:
For single parents: Find your number of child dependents, then scan right to the Medi-Cal Eligibility Threshold. If your income is below the threshold, your dependent qualifies for Medi-Cal. If your income is greater than the threshold, you qualify for 100% dependent premium remission through UC SHIP.
• • For dual parents: Find your number of child dependents, then scan right to the income values. If your combined income is less than the Medi-Ccal Eligibility Threshold, your dependent qualifies for Medi-Cal. If your combined income is between the Medi-Cal Threshold and the 2x Threshold, you qualify for 100% dependent premium remission through UC SHIP.
This table is accurate for 2026. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the Medi-Cal website.
You must enroll within the relevant window for qualifying life events or during the open enrollment period. To begin the enrollment process, please complete the form/follow the instructions available at the link for your campus and submit the completed form to your department administrator. When applying, please reach out to organize@uaw4811.org for help submitting the form, determining eligibility, or with any questions.
Childcare Reimbursement
ASEs/GSRs at UC have fought to win the strongest childcare support program of any employees at UC, and in the most recent contract, childcare reimbursement amounts are increasing by 46%. All parents working in ASE or GSR positions at 25% FTE (10 hours per week) or more are eligible to receive a reimbursement for the cost of childcare services for a child dependent 12 years old or younger. UC must process and pay your reimbursement within 60 days of filing.
For GSRs, you are eligible to receive a childcare reimbursement every fiscal quarter you are employed. Fiscal quarters are defined as:
July 1st–September 30th
October 1st–December 31st
January 1st–March 31st
April 1st–June 30th
For ASEs, you are eligible to receive a childcare reimbursement every academic quarter or semester you are employed, including Summer Session.
You must request reimbursement within 30 days of the end of the period for which reimbursements are sought. To begin the enrollment process, please complete the form below for your campus and submit it alongside receipts for your childcare expenses to your department/hiring unit manager. For questions about eligibility, please contact organize@uaw4811.org.
Per-campus links to request reimbursement
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