District of Columbia Enacts New Paid Family Leave Law

On February 1, 2020, the District of Columbia (D.C.) Department of Employment Services released a new mandatory Paid Family Leave Employee Notice. The notice contains information regarding employee rights and paid-leave benefits provided by the Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act of 2016.

Under the new law, which goes into effect July 1, 2020, covered employees may take up to a maximum of eight (8) weeks of paid leave per year for any combination of the following reasons:

• Parental Leave for bonding with a new child (up to 8 weeks per year);
• Family Leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition (up to 6 weeks a year); and/or
• Medical Leave for the employee’s serious health condition (up to 2 weeks a year).

Employees taking eligible leave will receive partial wage-replacement benefits from the Office of Paid Family Leave. The paid leave is funded through payroll taxes paid by employers. All employers who do business in D.C. and also pay unemployment insurance are required to pay into the paid leave fund.

The District’s new paid-leave benefits are an important addition to existing family leave laws such as the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

For additional information about the new paid leave law, including a benefit estimator, visit the Department of Employment Services website here.

The attorneys of Lebau & Neuworth are experienced in handling cases involving Paid Leave; if you require assistance with an issue pertaining to paid leave, we may be able to help. Contact Lebau & Neuworth at (410) 296-3030 or lebauneuworth.com/contact-us.