California’s New Parent Leave Act: Supporting Working Parents
Are you struggling to take care of your newborn baby due to your busy work schedule? If the answer is yes, you can time off of your work under the California parent leave act. This law applies to both mothers and fathers to support them to take proper care of their children. They can take leave from work for up to 12 weeks within one year of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement. You can utilize this opportunity to bond with your child.
The following article will provide the details of California’s New Parent Leave Act and related issues. Keep reading to know more about this law.
What are the criteria to be eligible for the California parent leave act?
You can take leave under NPLA when you meet the following requirements. Such as:
- You have worked under a covered employer for at least 12 months.
- Over the past 12 months, you have worked a minimum of 1250 hours.
- There are at least 20 employees in a 75-mile radius of your place of employment.
- You can not take New Parent Leave in case you fall under the category of both the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Employee rights under NPLA
When you are eligible for taking time off of your work under New Parent Leave Act, you will be entitled to get an unpaid job-protected leave of up to 12 weeks. Additionally, you will get the benefits of health plan coverage during the time off. You can leave to bond with your new child within one year of the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
Can I get paid when I take leave under the NPLA?
The New Parent Leave Act allows employees to take a 12-week unpaid leave for child care. However, you can use accrued time during this leave. Such as:
- Vacation pay,
- Sick time, or
- other paid leave.
Your employer can neither forbid you to take paid leave nor force you to take paid time off during this time.
How can I apply for New Parent Leave?
You will have to submit a paper claim form to EDD within 41 days after starting the family leave but not before the first day of leave. You can complete the process via online process or by mail. You need to include the name of your employer, the date from when you want the claim to begin (first day of family leave), wages paid (if any), last day of work, and claim-specific supporting documentation like bonding claim, or caregiving claim.
Final Words
California parent leave act is a crucial law for new parents so that they can bond with their children and take care of them properly. Recently, this law has been retracted because California Family Rights Act (CFRA) covers the provisions of the parent leave act. The CFRA applies to all employers having 5 or more employees in the business. You can take benefits of parental leave from the parent leave laws.
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