Stronger Family Leave Protections Coming to California Employees

Governor Newsom signs law giving men and women equal family leave protections, even with smaller companies. Under current state law, women were provided 12-weeks of job protections in order for the mother to engage in bonding with a new child or care for a sick family member. The current law did not provide the same protections for fathers. That is, until California approved stronger family leave protections.

Under the new law, mothers and fathers will be afforded the same 12-weeks of job protections. Senate Bill 1383 requires employers with five or more workers to offer 12 weeks of time off for family leave beginning January 1, 2021.

This vastly differs from the law, which does not include such strong protections to employees, unless they are employed by companies with 50 or more employees, or companies that have decided to increase the family leave protections.