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You know how great it is to find money in your pocket that you forgot was there, especially when you really, really need it? Californians who are struggling to balance work with caring for a new child or a seriously ill family member may actually have a forgotten stash of money… and few of us have tapped into it! Five years ago, California became the first state in the country to pass a law entitling workers up to 6 weeks of partially paid leave after the birth or adoption of a baby or to care for a sick family member. But even after five years of paying into the worker-funded Paid Family Leave program, most California workers still don't know this law exists! In fact, a recent survey found that only 28% of Californians are aware of the Paid Family Leave law. Workers of color and low-wage workers are less likely to know about PFL, even though they are also less likely to have paid sick days or paid vacation days that more affluent workers are provided. The program is worker-funded, and each person who is eligible but doesn't use it is struggling more than they should!
With all of our state's well-documented budget woes, we're glad there's still this bright spot, a sort of financial safety net for families. Now more than ever, California's working families can use every bit of help. What does the law provide? • Paid Family Leave provides for up to 6 weeks of partially paid leave each year to bond with a newborn baby, newly adopted or foster child, or to care for a seriously ill parent, child, spouse or registered domestic partner. • Workers, whether full time or part time, receive 55% of their wages (maximum of $959 per week). • Workers are eligible if they pay into State Disability Insurance (SDI) or a voluntary plan and if they earned at least $300 in the last 12 months. • Workers may take Paid Family Leave all at once, but are not required to (since the law does not have a minimum number of days or hours). • Although the Paid Family Leave law does not expressly provide statutory job protection, workers may be eligible for other laws that do. Why is Paid Family Leave so important? • Having a baby is a leading cause of “poverty spells” in the US – when income dips below what’s needed to cover basic living expenses. [1] • Paid family leave has been shown to significantly reduce infant and child mortality. [2] • Women who take leave are more likely to breastfeed their infants, leading to improved health for mother and child. [3] • Many women are still feeling childbirth-related symptoms 5 weeks after giving birth – paid family leave gives moms a chance to recover. [4] Want to find out more? For basic information about the program, visit the Employment Development Department or call their toll-free hotline: 1-877-BE-THERE or 877-238-4373 (English, Español, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Armenian, Punjabi, and Tagalog) or 1-800-445-1312 (TTY). If you're having difficulty taking leave or have employment-related questions, call the free work and family hotline at the Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center: 800-880-8047 (Español, English and Cantonese). For more information, visit the Paid Family Leave Collaborative Web site or call them at 800-880-8047. Notes: Copyright © 2009
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