Paid parental leave access is increasing in the U.S.
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Paid parental leave in the U.S. is far from guaranteed, but new and promised state laws are expanding access to it.
Why it matters: The U.S. offers some employees 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid family leave but doesn't have a paid federal parental leave policy.
- Only about 27% of Americans working in the private sector have access to paid family leave when they welcome a new child, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau.
- Meanwhile, most countries guarantee paid maternity leave and paid paternity leave.
Zoom in: There are three main ways to get paid in the U.S. during parental leave, and they can be combined:
1. Through your employer.
- Rules vary: It could be you receive nothing ranging up to being paid for a year after birth, adoption or foster care placement.
- Between the lines: Often employers say you must work for the company a set amount of time before you can use paid leave benefits.
2. Via your state's paid leave laws.
- Currently, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and D.C. offer paid parental leave, which typically covers a portion of your paycheck for eight to 12 weeks.
- Between the lines: Certain local government and school employees have paid leave laws that differ from state law.
3. From short-term disability, if you're a birthing parent.
- In states where pregnancy disability is not required, workers could have the option to purchase short-term disability insurance as an add-on before they're pregnant.
- Between the lines: A few states offer two to four weeks on top of their state leave programs if there are pregnancy complications.
What we're watching: 2026 could be a big year for paid family leave, with new laws in Delaware, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota expected to go into effect.
Go deeper: How to determine your paid family leave plan
