State Family Medical Leave Acts

State family medical leave laws primarily supplement the federal statute: Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Several states mandate more generous maternity and family leave than the FMLA, while other state laws apply to smaller employers.

Still others restrict the leave to only the employee's disability. This allows women to combine the two rules together for extended leave: baby bonding time to care for a family member, and leave to recover from her own disability (maternity leave).

Below are the states with separate family leave laws and regulations. Pay careful attention to subtle variations in the laws as many states create special rules for pregnancy and maternity leave situations.

California

CA Maternity Leave laws are the richest in the country. California allows up to 18 weeks of partially paid, job protected leave for normal pregnancy, and longer if complications arise. Benefits are limited and don't apply to everyone. Understand how CA SDI Disability, Paid Family Leave, Family Medical Leave, and Pregnancy Disability laws work with federal rules.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Family Medical Leave law allows for 16 weeks of unpaid leave during any 24 month period. The law applies to employer groups of 75 or more, but does not apply to state, municipal, local or regional board of education, private or parochial elementary or secondary school.

Maine

Maine's Family Medical Leave act allows an employee who has been employed for 12 consecutive months by the same employer to receive up to 10 weeks of family medical leave. The leave can be either paid or unpaid; there are other conditions that must be met to qualify for the leave and the employer must employ at least 15 employees.

Massachusetts

If you are not eligible for leave under the FMLA, you may be entitled to maternity leave under the Massachusetts Maternity Leave Act (MMLA). The MMLA provides eight weeks of job-protected leave to full-time female employees.

Minnesota

The Minnesota Parental Leave Act applies to employers of 21 or more workers at any one site. It entitles workers to six weeks of unpaid leave, and continued health care coverage at full cost to the employee.

New Jersey

NJ Maternity Leave laws are some of the richest in the country. New Jersey allows up to 18 weeks of partially paid, job protected leave for normal pregnancy, and longer if complications arise. Benefits are limited and don't apply to everyone. Understand how NJ Temporary Disability, Paid Family Leave, and Family Medical Leave laws work with federal rules.

Oregon

The Oregon Family Leave Act, passed by the 1995 Legislature, requires employers of 25 or more employees to provide their workers with job-protected leave to care for themselves or family members in cases of illness, injury, childbirth or adoption.

Rhode Island

Public employers of 30 or more employees and private employers with 50 or more employees are required to offer 13 weeks of state maternity leave in any two calendar years for the birth or adoption of a child or the serious illness of a child, spouse or parent.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Family Leave Act mandates that public and private employers must maintain a maternity leave policy that allows female employees 16 weeks' leave for childbirth. Employers must not retaliate for employees taking this leave.

Washington State

Washington State has two maternity leave laws. The Pregnancy Disability Act provides added job security for women experiencing complications. The Family Medical Leave Act has special maternity provisions which supplement the Federal legislation.

Interrelated

State Family Medical Leave Acts