Navigating maternity leave benefits can be overwhelming, but knowing what you’re entitled to in California can make the process smoother. Here’s a breakdown of the different benefits available:
Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)
Pregnancy Disability Leave is a state-mandated benefit that allows you to take up to four months off work due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This leave can be taken intermittently or continuously and is available regardless of how long you’ve been employed. PDL provides job protection but not necessarily paid leave. However, you can use accrued paid leave (sick, vacation) during this period.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
The FMLA is a federal law that provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees for family and medical reasons, including the birth of a child. To qualify, you must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months and have clocked at least 1,250 hours in the past year. FMLA runs concurrently with PDL if taken for pregnancy-related reasons.
California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
Similar to FMLA, CFRA offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. The key difference is that CFRA can be used for bonding with a newborn, which means it can kick in after PDL. Like FMLA, you need to have worked for your employer for at least a year and logged 1,250 hours in the preceding 12 months to qualify.
Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll dive deeper into California’s State Disability Insurance (SDI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) programs!