Glossary

Term · California: Leave, Money, and Paperwork

pregnancy disability leave

Also: PDL, California pregnancy disability leave, pregnancy leave

Time off work for pregnancy-related conditions and recovery from birth, which California's employment law protects. The leave is separate from paid family leave.

In plain words

Pregnancy disability leave is time off work for conditions caused by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical needs. In California, it is protected under the state's , which covers employers with five or more employees. The leave can last up to four months, depending on the medical need. Your provider signs a form that states the medical need and the expected leave dates. Employers are expected to receive reasonable advance notice, and 30 days is the standard when the leave is foreseeable. Pregnancy disability leave is separate from , which pays wage replacement for bonding and caregiving. Many mothers use both. California law protects workers from being fired for taking this leave.

The deeper version

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) covers employers with five or more employees and provides pregnancy disability leave of up to four months, with regulations at 2 CCR 11050 requiring reasonable advance notice, and 30 days where foreseeable. Leave is unpaid by the employer but may be paired with for wage replacement, which is administered by the . The statute's protections attach when the employer has knowledge of the pregnancy, which places a documentation burden on employees and is the basis for the written-notice convention. Interaction with federal leave under the , which covers employers with 50 or more employees, is complex and fact-specific. The main controversy concerns whether leave coordination across state and federal rules imposes practical barriers on lower-wage workers.

Where it comes up

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Sources

  • California Civil Rights Department — Fair Employment and Housing Act: pregnancy disability leave regulations, 2 CCR 11050
  • California Employment Development Department — Pregnancy Disability Leave and State Disability Insurance guidance

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