What You Need to Know About Parental Leave
6 Major Questions You Might Have About Parental Leave
2
Your parental-leave pay depends on what state you live in and who your employer is. While there is no federal legislation for paid parental leave, every state is covered under the Federal and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which entitles those who work at companies with more than 50 employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a year to care for themselves or a loved one — which would cover parental leave. However, this type of leave is unpaid, which is why some states have enacted their own parental-leave guidelines that offer pay to those taking leave to have and care for children.
California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Washington DC, Washington, and Massachusetts currently have paid family leave laws in place, and Connecticut and Oregon have enacted these laws, but they have not yet gone into effect. With these laws in effect, employees are entitled to take a certain amount of time off work to bond with a child (whether it's by birth, adoption, or foster) and be paid a partial amount of their typical pay.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico, on the other hand, offer partial pay to those taking time off due to pregnancy, but it's through short-term disability laws. Similarly to how other states operate, the amount of pay you'll receive varies based on state and employer. Because this funding comes from a combination of employers and the government, it can vary widely based on where you live and who you work for. It's important to discuss this at length with the human-resources department where you work so you know what to expect when you take the time off.
Keep in mind that your parental leave must take place within 12 months of having the baby or bringing the child home. There are also additional stipulations to qualify for various forms of leave, including working for an employer for a certain length of time.