Which states offer the most paid family leave in 2023?

Family leave, also known as parental leave, are the protections offered to families with newborn children.

The most significant piece of federal legislation for parental leave is the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), taking effect on 5 August, 1993. The FMLA allows eligible employees of covered employers to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during a twelve-month period for specific family or medical reasons. However, this is only if they work in a company with more than 50 employees.

This twelve weeks of unpaid leave is paltry compared to the rest of the developed world. It is the only one of the 38 OECD nations to not have paid maternal leave as standard while the amount of time itself is below the World Health Organisations’ recommendation of a 16-week minimum.

Which individual states offer paid support for new families?

Of the 50 states, just eleven have passed paid family leave laws, excluding the District of Columbia which also has its own provisions. These are all noted below unless noted.

California

Up to twelve weeks of unpaid family leave plus four months of maternity disability may be combined for a total of 28 weeks per year.

Colorado

Employees may be eligible for up to twelve weeks of paid leave under the following circumstances: their own serious health condition, a family member’s serious health condition, the birth of their child, and the adoption or foster care placement of a child.

Connecticut

Up to twelve weeks in two years for the birth or adoption of a child, or the placement of child for foster care.

DC

Employees may have the opportunity to take up to eight weeks to nurture a new child.

Delaware

Employees may be granted up to twelve weeks to attend to a child after birth, adoption, or placement through foster care.

Massachusetts

Up to twelve weeks to care for a family member or bond with a child.

New Jersey

Unpaid leave of up to twelve weeks in twelve months or 56 intermittent days to care for a child anytime during the first year after that child’s birth or adoption.

New York

Up to twelve weeks per year for birth of a child, placement of a child in adoption or foster care.

Oregon

Up to twelve weeks per year for the birth of a child and the placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance Program provides up to five weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a new child.

Washington

Up to a total of twelve weeks of leave during any twelve-month period for the birth of a child, the placement of a child for adoption or foster care.