Did you know that the U.S. is the only developed country to not offer fully paid maternal or paternal leave? Well now, NorCal will be the first to initiate change on this topic. San Francisco’s legislation was approved on Tuesday and will now require employers to offer fully paid parental leave. Here’s everything you need to know!
What does this mean?
Beginning in 2017, San Francisco’s new law will complement state law and require employers with 50 or more workers to provide the remaining 45% of an employee’s salary for a six-week leave (employees currently receive 55% of their salary). Employers with 20 or more employees will begin to implement the new law in phases.
What is California’s current paid leave program?
Under Cali’s paid leave program, employees are given six weeks of partial pay or 55% of their salary when taking time off to take care of a new born — including adopted and foster children. Employers fund the employee’s paid-time-off.
Are there other states that have a paid leave program?
Yes. New York, Rhode Island, and Washington have a similar paid leave program. New York signed into law legislation which would mandate 12 weeks paid time off though this will slowly be phased in and initially cover only 50% of a worker’s salary.
What do other countries offer with their paid leave programs?
Australia offers 18 weeks of paid paternity leave and the UK offers 39 weeks. Sweden gives their employees 480 days leave.
What is the purpose of this change?
San Francisco’s new law is meant to assist those going on paid maternal and paternal leave with full salary’s pay. Experts say that paid leave laws provide tremendous health benefits to the parents and their children. Additionally, there are times when low-income workers may not even be able to afford to go on paternity leave which is detrimental to their health and their baby’s health.
With this new change occurring in San Francisco, activists are hoping to encourage progressive change across the U.S. Jenya Cassidy, statewide director of the California Work and Family Coalition, said to The Guardian, “It creates a new idea in culture that this can happen. People can have full pay when they are on leave. In that way, it’s a really bold move.”
What are your thoughts on the new paid leave program? Let us know in the comments below!
xx, The FabFitFun Team
