BY THE BOOK
New Law for Leaves
Employers need to adjust for expansion of family leave opportunities in California
BY Laura C . McHugh and Consuelo I . Amezcua
Prior to Jan . 1 , the California
Family Rights Act required employers of 50 or more employees to provide eligible California employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid , jobprotected leave during any 12-month period to bond with a new child or care for themselves , a child , parent or spouse . In 2018 , the California New Parent Leave Act effectively expanded the CFRA , providing child-bonding leave to employees of employers with 20-49 employees .
Perhaps the most significant employment legislation of 2020 , Senate Bill 1383 repealed the CFRA and eliminated the NPLA , replacing those laws with a new CFRA that includes smaller employers , adds qualifying reasons for leave and adds family members for whom leave may be used . It also eliminates certain reinstatement exceptions , a notable break from the CFRA ’ s federal counterpart , the Family and Medical Leave Act .
Here ’ s what employers need to know about the new law that took effect Jan . 1 .
The new guidelines
The new CFRA expands coverage to California employers with five or more employees . Smaller businesses that never provided CFRA leave must comply with the new law , including its complicated notice and documenta-
The new California Family Rights Act includes smaller employers , adds qualifying reasons for leave and adds family members for whom leave may be used .
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