What Is The California Family Rights Act?

Our Los Angeles Employment Attorneys Know California Labor Law On Family Medical Leave

The California Family Rights Acts (CFRA) intends to give employees and business owners important rights when serious medical conditions appear or during pregnancy or childbirth. The state law amends the rights of requirements of individuals taking leave for medical issues, and is similar to the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). CFRA can significantly affect California families. 
  
Our Los Angeles employment lawyers can explain what CFRA is and what it can do for employees and their employers. We have over 100 years of combined experience helping California workers take full advantage of the family medical leave laws that protect them.

Who Can Take Family Medical Leave Under the California Family Rights Act?

In general, CFRA leave allows employees to take family and medical leave for the following conditions:

• To bond with a child after birth
• When taking a child into an employee’s family for adoption or foster care
• For any serious health condition affecting the employee’s spouse, child or parent
• For any serious health condition affecting the employee

CFRA defines a serious health condition as an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition that involves either in-patient care in a hospital or similar care facility, or continuing treatment or supervision by a health care provider. Employees can take as many as 12 workweeks worth of leave during a 12-month period. CFRA leave does not need to be taken in a single continuous period.

An employee taking CFRA leave is not entitled to pay unless the employee or employer decides the employee should use accrued paid vacation time or other paid leave. If the employee is taking leave for his or her own medical condition, the employee may use accrued sick leave. The employer must continue health care coverage and other benefits such as pension and unemployment benefit plans during the leave.

Am I Eligible for CFRA Leave?

To be eligible for CFRA leave, an employee must be a full or part-time worker in California with more than 12 months of service with the employer and at least 1,250 hours of work in a 12-month period before beginning the leave. The employer must have at least 50 employees in a 75-mile radius of the employee’s work location.

This information covers only the basics of CFRA. If you may require medical leave or want to learn more about this important California labor law, call our Los Angeles employment attorneys at (310) 997-4431.