California Paid Family Leave offers wage replacement for caregiving or bonding time with a new child or ill family member. This includes eligibility rules, benefit details, application steps, and allowances for undocumented workers and San Francisco employees.
By Brad Nakase, Attorney
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The government of California formally increased the duration of Paid Family Leave from six to eight weeks (on 1st July 2020). Many people still ask, “What is PFL in California?” despite improvements to the law.
We are available to assist you with the paid leave application procedure. We are aware of how intricate and difficult it is to make use of California’s paid leave policies. Our goal is to increase public knowledge of paid leave and to promote more accessible and easily comprehensible paid leave laws.
If an employee needs time off to take care of a critically ill member of the family (child, parent, grandparent, parent-in-law, sibling, grandchild, spouse, or recognized domestic partner) or to spend time with an infant or child who has entered the family via birth, foster care position, or adoption, California PFL (Paid Family Leave) offers limited wage replacement advantages.
So, what is PFL in California really about? It’s not just maternity leave. It is an all-encompassing support system of the family that encompasses a vast array of cases of caregiving and bonding.
Both. Paid time off for families is not limited to those who give birth in person. Additionally, it’s for those who wish to form a bond with the newborn following adoption, foster care assignment, or delivery. It’s also for those who must provide care for an immediate family member who has a life-threatening disease. For example, you may utilize Paid Family Leave to provide care for your parents if they have been confirmed to have cancer.
You may utilize up to eight weeks of paid family leave.
In order to be eligible for Paid Family Leave, you must 1) make contributions to the plan and 2) have a legitimate cause for taking time from work. Workers in California provide all of the funding for Paid Family Leave. By examining your paychecks, you can determine whether you are making contributions. California State Disability Insurance, or “CA SDI,” should appear if you make a contribution.
In the event that you come back from Paid Family Leave, the company is not required to reinstate you. Other federal or state regulations, such as the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) and the CFRA (California Family Rights Act), may, nevertheless, protect your employment. The California Family Rights Act should be examined by the majority of California employees since it offers greater protection than the Family Medical Leave Act.
The following conditions must be fulfilled in order for you to be eligible for employment safeguards within the California Family Rights Act.
To provide for a spouse, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, registered domestic partner, parent, child, or designated individual who is gravely ill. Cousins and close friends are examples of members of your selected or wider family who are considered designated persons.
Yes. You are eligible for Paid Family Leave irrespective of your immigration status. You can take Paid Family Leave without having a Social Security number or being an American citizen, so long as you are contributing to the State Disability Insurance fund (look at your paycheck stubs). The EDD (Employment Development Department) will not request citizenship documentation.
You may be able to receive between 70 and 90 percent (based on your income) of your salary from five to eighteen months prior to the start of the application process. This pay replacement will be paid to you for a maximum of 8 weeks within any given 12-month period. Your eligibility is unaffected by how long you’ve worked at the present job.
If you’re still wondering, “What is PFL in California and how do I apply?” follow this simple process:
San Francisco employees: If you are getting Paid Family Leave payments for connecting with a newborn through adoption, foster care placement, or delivery, your company may be compelled to pay you additional money. Visit the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement’s PPLO (Paid Parental Leave Ordinance) for additional details.
Hope this article was beneficial for you in understanding what is PFL in California and its benefits.
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