Family Leave Policy

Whether a state has established a paid family leave program and the overall strength of that program. Paid family leave policies provide income replacement during periods when workers temporarily leave employment to care for a new child or family member. As a policy measure, this component evaluates the extent to which a state’s legal framework supports workers during major family caregiving events.

• States receive the highest scores when paid family leave is universally available through state law and provides longer leave duration, meaningful wage replacement, and job protection.
• Lower scores apply where programs are more limited in duration, replacement rates, or protections.
• States that only facilitate voluntary participation receive partial credit, while states with no paid family leave program receive a score of zero.

Whether a state has enacted laws that expand unpaid family leave protections beyond the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). As a policy measure, this component evaluates the extent to which state law broadens the legal ability of workers to take job-protected leave for family and caregiving needs beyond the federal baseline.

• States receive the highest scores when state law substantially expands unpaid leave protections, such as providing longer leave durations, covering a broader range of family relationships, or applying to a wider share of employers than federal law.
• Partial scores apply where states provide more limited expansions, including shorter leave periods or leave restricted to specific circumstances such as pregnancy or adoption.
• States with no statutory protections beyond the federal FMLA receive a score of zero.

Whether state law requires workplace accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. As a policy measure, this component evaluates whether state law provides clear workplace protections that allow pregnant workers to remain employed while addressing temporary health and physical needs associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Whether state law allows workers to use earned sick leave to care for family members. As a policy measure, this component evaluates whether workers have the legal ability to use sick leave for family caregiving needs, including caring for children, spouses, parents, or other close family relationships during periods of illness or family health events.

Whether state law requires employers to provide leave following the death of a family member or pregnancy-related loss. As a policy measure, this component evaluates whether state law provides workers with protected time away from work following significant family loss events, including both traditional bereavement and pregnancy-related loss.

Whether state law allows workers to take leave from employment to attend school or childcare-related activities for their children. As a policy measure, this component evaluates whether state law enables parents or guardians to participate in school-related events, meetings, and childcare activities that support children’s educational engagement and development.

How broadly state law defines “family” for purposes of family and medical leave or related leave policies. As a policy measure, this component evaluates the scope of family relationships recognized within state leave frameworks and the extent to which workers can take leave to care for individuals within their broader family networks.