New Changes to California’s Paid Family Leave Program
In recent years, the California Paid Family Leave program has received some changes. The changes include an increase in paid leave time as well as an expansion in non-paid protected leave.
Below are some key highlights that you should know.
California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program provides benefits of up to 8 weeks, an expansion from the previous 6 weeks, to cover employee wages while bonding with a new child or to care for an ill family member.
The California Family Rights Act provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected, benefit-protected leave for employees who take time off work to bond with a new child or to care for an ill family member. This law now applies to the vast majority of employers in California, regardless of business size.
Paid Family Leave Grants Available to Assist Small Employers
California has a new grant program available to assist employers with 1-100 employees that are impacted by the California Paid Family Leave Program (PFL).
This program is intended to assist with the increased costs associated with the changes in the PFL program. These costs can include:
Additional training
Upskilling
Additional hiring
Marketing
Recruitment
Other reasonably foreseeable training costs
Paid Family Leave Grant Benefit
Businesses with 1-50 employees may receive up to $2,000 per employee utilizing Paid Family Leave.
Businesses with 51-100 employees may receive up to $1,000 per employee utilizing Paid Family Leave.
How to Apply for the PFL Grant
Use the simple application on the California Paid Family Leave Grant site to apply. It takes about 10-15 minutes to apply.
https://californiapfl.com/apply-now
Additional information about the program can be found here: https://californiapfl.com/faqs
We highly encourage employers of all sizes to take a fresh look at their employee leave and other policies as they relate to family leave, caregiving, and paid sick leave. If you need assistance, please reach out directly to support@clementsemploymentlaw.com. It is a great time to refresh policies and practices to ensure your business stays up to date on the current requirements!