California has the most comprehensive leave laws of any US state. Employers must comply with multiple overlapping entitlements including paid sick leave, paid family leave, pregnancy disability leave, and various other protected leave types. This summary covers all statutory leave entitlements in California as of 2026.

Paid Sick Leave

Yes — Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act (SB 95)

Paid Family Leave

Yes — Paid Family Leave (PFL) — State Disability Insurance (SDI)

Unpaid Family & Medical Leave

Program California Family Rights Act (CFRA) + Federal FMLA
Duration Up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period.
Eligibility Employees who have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours. Employers with 5 or more employees must comply with CFRA.

CFRA provides job-protected leave for bonding, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or the employee's own serious health condition. Unlike FMLA, CFRA does not cover the employee's own pregnancy disability (covered separately by PDL).

Jury Duty Leave

Program California Labor Code Sections 230-230.3
Paid? No — employers are not required to pay for jury duty leave.

Employers must allow employees to serve on a jury. Employers cannot discharge, threaten, or coerce employees for taking time off for jury duty. Some employers choose to pay the difference between jury pay and regular wages.

Voting Leave

Program California Elections Code Section 14000
Paid? Yes — up to 2 hours of paid time off.

Employees who do not have sufficient time outside working hours to vote are entitled to up to 2 hours of paid time off at the beginning or end of the shift.

School Activity Leave

Program California Labor Code Section 230.7
Duration Up to 40 hours per year (not more than 8 hours per month).
Eligibility Parents, guardians, or grandparents with custody of a child enrolled in a licensed child care facility or school (K-12).
Paid? Unpaid, but employees may use accrued vacation, PTO, or comp time.

Leave is for participating in school activities or addressing child care provider issues.

Domestic Violence Leave

Program California Labor Code Section 230.1
Duration Reasonable time off for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Eligibility All employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or whose family members are victims.
Paid? Unpaid, but employees may use accrued paid leave.

Leave can be used for medical attention, victim services, counseling, safety planning, relocation, or legal assistance.

Military Leave

Program California Military and Veterans Code Section 395

Employees who are members of the California National Guard or US Armed Forces reserves are entitled to military leave for active duty, training, or emergency service. Employers must continue health insurance during military leave.

Other Leave

Organ and Bone Marrow Donation Leave

Up to 30 days of paid leave for organ donation and up to 5 days for bone marrow donation (employers with 15+ employees).

Victim Leave

Reasonable time off for victims of crime to appear in court or seek medical attention.

Family Partnership Leave

Up to 6 days of unpaid leave per year to participate in activities at a child's school or licensed child care facility (employers with 25+ employees).

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited sources for current law before making employment decisions.