Isabela State University (ISU) upholds its commitment to gender equity and family welfare by ensuring that both women and men are supported in balancing their professional and family responsibilities. Through an Office Order enforcing Republic Act No. 11210 (Expanded Maternity Leave Law) and Republic Act No. 8187 (Paternity Leave Act), ISU provides comprehensive maternity and paternity benefits that recognize the shared responsibilities of parenthood. Female employees are granted maternity leave, ensuring financial security, recovery, and uninterrupted career progression, while male employees are accorded paternity leave to enable their presence and participation during the early stages of childcare. These policies reflect ISU’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, compassionate, and gender-responsive work environment that values both motherhood and fatherhood as integral to family and institutional well-being.
Through this policies, Isabela State University affirms that supporting families means supporting all parents—and that true gender equity in the workplace begins with recognizing and facilitating shared parental responsibilities.
GUIDELINES
MATERNITY LEAVE
In compliance with Republic Act No. 11210, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, female employees have an option to receive one hundred five (105) days of paid maternity leave—providing financial security and adequate recovery time without penalty to their careers or employment status—or extend for an additional thirty (30) days without pay, and granting an additional fifteen (15) days for solo mothers and for other purposes.
This protection allows women faculty and staff to embrace motherhood while maintaining their professional roles within the university. Furthermore, by addressing the needs of our female employees, the university’s maternity policy demonstrates an understanding that true gender equity requires institutional support during critical life transitions, enabling women to balance maternal responsibilities with their professional aspirations without sacrificing either.
paternity LEAVE
In compliance with Republic Act No 8187, the Paternity Leave Act, all married male employees are entitled to seven (7) days of paternity leave with full pay for the first four (4) deliveries of their legitimate spouse with whom they are cohabiting. This progressive policy recognizes that childcare is a shared responsibility and actively supports women’s workforce participation by enabling fathers to be present during the crucial early days of their child’s life.
This paternity leave provision reflects the university’s evolving understanding of workplace equity. By allowing non-gestational parents to take time off during the critical postpartum period, the university enables fathers to actively participate in childcare duties, share the domestic workload, and provide essential support to their partners. Furthermore, this approach not only strengthens family bonds but also creates a more equitable environment where women can continue their professional pursuits without bearing the disproportionate burden of childcare alone.
Implementation
The university has directed all administrators and campus Human Resource Management Offices to strictly implement the rules and regulations set forth in Republic Act No. 11210 and Republic Act No. 8187, ensuring consistent application across all campuses.
The Maternity and Paternity Leaves granted by the university are in addition to the regular statutory leave benefits provided to all employees, such as vacation and sick leaves. This means that these parental leave privileges are separate and distinct from the standard leave entitlements, ensuring that employees do not have to sacrifice their earned leave credits to attend to family-related responsibilities.
Policy created / effective: February 03, 2021