When you become a parent, whether the child is born to you or whether you adopt, the event is considered a qualifying change in status, which allows you to adjust your participation in some of the Corporation's benefits when the change occurs. (Normally, you can change certain benefits coverage only once a year, during the annual enrollment period.) Most changes you make because of your new child will be effective as of the date of his or her birth or adoption, provided that you meet certain deadlines.

Bear in mind that you have only 31 days following the date of your child's birth or placement for adoption to submit changes for the medical, dental, vision, and flexible spending account coverage you have through the Corporation. If you miss this 31-day deadline, you must wait for the next annual enrollment period to change your coverage. To make changes, visit Employee Self-Service on The McGraw-Hill Companies intranet.

For certain other elective benefits for which you may be eligible—supplemental long-term disability, supplemental life insurance, and the 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan—you can change your coverage or participation at any time. Please be aware that some changes may require you to provide evidence of insurability before coverage can begin.

Note that, as with all qualifying changes, having or adopting a child allows you to make only changes that are consistent with your status change. For instance, you may cover your new child by switching from the "self only" to the "self plus one" or "self plus two or more" coverage level if you cover your spouse and your new dependent. You may not, however, switch from one plan to another—for example, from the Account-based Option to the Traditional Option.

If you are pregnant…A maternity absence is categorized as a disability and qualifies you for benefits under the Corporation's Salary Continuation and Accident and Sickness Plan. The amount of paid time off and the percentage of pay you receive is based on the Short-Term Disability Plan provisions and your length of service with the Corporation. You generally receive two weeks of paid leave before your due date and six or eight weeks paid leave after the birth of your child, depending on the type of delivery. When any maternity disability leave ends, you may apply for an unpaid leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and you can take additional job-guaranteed time off through the Optional Leave policy. For more information, review the section on Paid and Unpaid Time Off in the Human Resources Guide to Working at The McGraw-Hill Companies, which is available on The McGraw-Hill Companies intranet or through the Human Resources Service Center (HRSC) at 1-888-843-4772. Note that some or all of the time you are away on a disability leave may count against the total amount of time you are eligible to take as an FMLA leave. Also, during an unpaid leave, you will have to pay contributions to continue Corporation benefits coverage, and participation under some benefit plans is suspended.

If you are a new father or you adopt a child…you are not eligible for disability leave, but most regular employees are entitled, after six months of service, to take up to three paid weeks off per calendar year upon the adoption or birth of a child. The time off should be used within six months of the birth or adoption, unless the needs of the business require it and prior management approval is given to take paid time off at a later date. During this paid leave, your benefits will remain unchanged. As a new father, you may also apply for an unpaid leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and you can take additional job-guaranteed time off through the Optional Leave policy. For more information, review the section on FMLA leaves in the Human Resource Guide to Working at The McGraw-Hill Companies, which is available on The McGraw-Hill Companies intranet or through the Human Resource Service Center (HRSC) at 1-888-843-4772. During an unpaid leave, you will have to pay contributions to continue Corporation benefits coverage, and participation under some benefit plans is suspended.

After you've considered your options, if you decide to or need to change your benefits, you can do so via Employee Self-Service on The McGraw-Hill Companies intranet. If the change you are making is to your 401(k) savings participation or to the investment of your 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan investments, visit Your Benefits Resources or call 1-866-477-6820.