NR No. 25-23
Contact: Loree Levy/Greg Lawson
916-654-9029
mediainquiries@edd.ca.gov
What You Need to Know: This Father’s Day, the Employment Development Department is highlighting the State’s first-in-the-nation Paid Family Leave program. We want to encourage all Californians to visit Paid Family Leave for Fathers to learn more about the valuable financial assistance available when workers need to take time off work to care for their families.
SACRAMENTO — This Father’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is celebrating dads and father figures across California by highlighting the State’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program.
California’s first-in-the-nation Paid Family Leave program was launched over 20 years ago, providing much-needed financial support for workers looking to bond with a new baby or foster/adopted child, care for an ill family member, or support a military family member while they serve our country abroad. Eligible workers can receive up to eight weeks of benefits to be there for those family moments that matter most.
“California’s Paid Family Leave strengthens families,” said EDD Director Nancy Farias. “We’re grateful to support working fathers when they need to take time off work to care for their loved ones.”
Since the program’s inception in 2004, EDD has paid over $17 billion in benefits to help workers cover loss of wages when they need to step in and support their families. Men accounted for just 15 percent of all bonding claims in 2004. Twenty years later, that figure has risen to 43 percent. California’s Paid Family Leave program is the model for the nation and has inspired similar programs in 13 other states, including the District of Columbia.
For new claims in 2025, California boosted Paid Family Leave, and Disability Insurance benefits up to 90 percent of regular pay for many workers — a landmark increase that makes it much easier for Californians to take time off work to care for their loved ones.
California’s Paid Family Leave Program at a Glance:
- Workers covered by the program pay for benefits through a deduction noted as “CASDI” on their paystubs.
- PFL benefits can be used all at once or be split up over a 12-month period.
- Fathers can take advantage of PFL benefits for bonding with a newly born, adopted, or foster child.
- Mothers can also receive as many as four weeks of disability benefits for a normal pregnancy before their expected due date and then transition to PFL benefits for bonding time.
- Benefits are also available when workers need to take time to care for an ill or injured loved one or to deal with the deployment overseas of a family member in the military.
- EDD offers an online calculator to help workers estimate their potential benefit amount.
This Father’s Day, EDD encourages new fathers, as well as those providing care to family members, to learn more about this essential benefit program by visiting Paid Family Leave for Fathers.