News Flash: San Francisco To Require 6-Weeks Paid Parental Leave

By:  Darrell P. White

On April 5, 2016, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance requiring local businesses to effectively provide their employees with six-weeks of fully-paid parental leave.  Click here to view.  Under existing California law, employees may receive up to 55% of their wages for six weeks through the California’ State Disability Insurance (SDI) program.  San Francisco’s new law would require employers to cover the pre-existing, 45% gap.

Subject to a final board vote next week and signature into law by Mayor Ed Lee, the new legislation will take effect on January 1, 2017, for companies with more than 50 employees.  In a likely response to the concerns of small businesses, the law would not take effect until January 1, 2018, for companies with 20 or more employees.

Stay tuned to hear the final parameters of the law and compliance information for your business.