Taking Time Off in California & New York, Just Got Easier!

20 Apr Taking Time Off in California & New York, Just Got Easier!

Posted at 10:01h in Advocacy, Employment by Triage Cancer

On Monday, 4/11, California expanded its Paid Family Leave program, when Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 908 into law.

Paid Family Leave (PFL) is a lifeline for families who need to take up to 6 weeks of time off work to bond with a new child or to care for a sick family member. California is one of 5 states that offer this option. (New Jersey offers 6 weeks and Rhode Island offers 4 weeks. Washington passed a law in 2007, but it has not gone into effect.

While California’s PFL program is a great resource for families, it has only paid 55% of your wages when you take time off work. Starting in 2018, it will increase from 55% to 70% for those making minimum wage and 60% for almost all other workers. Watch this video from the bill signing.

Other cities and states have been working to offer paid leave programs. Just this month:

In San Francisco, the County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved full pay during family leave.
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a family leave law that gives workers up to 12 weeks of paid family leave, twice as long as any other state. You can take time off to bond with a new child (including adopted or foster children), or to care for a gravely ill parent, child, spouse, domestic partner, or other family member.

For information on what might be available to you in your city or state, visit our website to see resources and our chart of state laws.