CALIFORNIA: More family members covered by paid family leave

Effective July 1, 2014, employees in California may take paid family leave to care for a grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or parent-in-law with a serious health condition. The change is the result of a new law that expanded the definition of eligible family members, which originally included only a child, parent, spouse, or registered domestic partner (2013 SB 770, 2013 Cal Laws Chap 350). Paid family leave is a state-run insurance program funded by employee contributions. It also provides income for employees who take time off to bond with a new child within 12 months after a birth, adoption, or foster care placement. For more information, or for updated language to include in your employee handbook, see our Model Policy, “California Paid Family Leave” (3839).