Earlier in the week, Jaemin Chang gave us this post that provided a historical perspective on San Francisco’s new paid parenting leave ordinance. Here’s some practical advice on the ordinance that appeared in our latest Labor & Employment Alert:
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On April 5, 2016, San Francisco adopted a Paid Parental Leave Ordinance. California already offers Paid Family Leave that provides up to six weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off to care for a seriously ill family member; or to bond with a newborn or a child recently placed through adoption or foster care. The existing state benefit, paid for with deductions from employees’ wages, covers approximately 55% of the employee’s wages, up to maximum benefit amount of $1,129 per week.
Under the new San Francisco ordinance, businesses with 20 or more employees (including part-time and temporary workers) will be required to pay the remaining 45% for employees taking the leave to bond with a newborn or recently placed child. The law takes effect January 1, 2017 for employers with 50 or more employees. Those with 35 to 49 employees join the party on July 1, 2017 and those with 20 or more employees on January 1, 2018.
To be eligible, employees must have worked with the employer for at least 90 days before the leave starts, must work at least 8 hours per week in San Francisco, and must spend 40% or more of their work time for the employer in San Francisco. The employee may take the time off anytime within the first year after the child is born or is placed through foster care or adoption.
Employers seeking more information on this new ordinance are encouraged to contact any of the labor and employment attorneys in our San Francisco office and to monitor further developments on this California Employment Law Blog.