June 2026 Newsletter
Learn about the Coalition’s Paid Family Leave Advocacy and Implementation Work!
We've been updating our website and we're excited to share that we just launched our Paid Family Leave Advocacy And Implementation Page.
Paid Family Leave Advocates is a group of Coalition partners and members who work on identifying and addressing administrative barriers that claimants encounter during the Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) application process.
PFL Advocates work closely with the Employment Development Department (EDD), the state agency in California that administers Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Paid Family Leave. Visit our website to learn more about our 2026 overarching priorities, the administrative barriers we are tackling, plus our previous wins!
For more information or to get involved please contact Natasha Castro (she/her) at natasha@workfamilyca.org.
Happy Pride Month! Know Your Leave Rights as an LGBTQ Worker in California
This Pride month, know your leave rights in California! Many LGBTQ+ adults care for and receive care from their chosen family, and California law is starting to reflect the importance of these relationships.
Currently, you can take job-protected leave and paid sick and safe days to care for yourself or a chosen family member. Paid safe days can be taken and used to help a chosen family member with safety planning related to violence.
Starting in July 2028, Paid Family Leave will expand to cover a “designated person,” who can be a member of your chosen family. Paid Family Leave provides up to 8 weeks of partial pay for eligible workers.
To learn more about if you’re eligible and how to take paid family leave for caregiving, check out our Resource Hub or our Pride Month Blog Post.
Happy Pride Month from the California Work & Family Coalition!
Governor Newsom Celebrates Growth In California Fathers Taking Bonding Leave
On June 19th, ahead of Father's Day, Governor Newsom celebrated the growth of California Fathers Taking Bonding Leave. Since California launched the nation’s first Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program in 2004, bonding leave claims filed by fathers have increased 1,905%, helping more dads take time to care for and bond with their new children. California fathers now take bonding leave at rates comparable to mothers.
The California Work & Family Coalition and members have been working together since the program's inception to make PFL more accessible to California families and to spread awareness of the PFL program. In 2025, SB 951 was implemented. This bill increased the wage replacement rate of Paid Family Leave and Disability Insurance to 90% for many workers. This increase has helped more parents take bonding leave and spend time with their children without sacrificing their financial stability. To learn more about Paid Leave, visit our resource hub here.
Bereavement Leave for Chosen or Extended Family - One Step Closer to Passing!
SB 1149 (Durazo) Bereavement Leave for Chosen or Extended Family recently passed out of the Assembly Labor & Employment Committee and is one step closer to passing! Currently, workers would not be protected if they need bereavement leave following the death of a chosen or extended family member such as an aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, unmarried partner or best friend. California caregiving laws already recognize chosen and extended family relationships, it’s time for bereavement leave to do the same!
Thank you to the Coalition members and allies for showing up in support of this bill! Thank you especially to Q Wilson with Our Family Coalition for sharing why SB 1149 is important during the hearing. We shared a video of Q’s testimony on our Instagram, please check the video out!
Paid Leave Plays a Key Role in Domestic Violence Prevention
Since 2020, the California Work & Family Coalition has partnered with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV) through the CDC-funded DELTA AHEAD national initiative to advance domestic violence prevention in California. The CDC has identified strengthening economic supports for families as a key strategy for preventing intimate partner violence, making policies like paid leave an important prevention approach. Through this partnership, we've collaborated to expand access to paid leave through trainings, community outreach, and joint implementation efforts so more workers can access the benefits they need to care for themselves and their families while strengthening economic security for communities across the state.
For more information on the Coalition's partnership with CPEDV or to get involved, contact Jenya Cassidy at jenya@workfamilyca.org.
Participants Needed for Research Study on Miscarriage and Workplace Leave
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago are interested in hearing from individuals who experienced miscarriage and were working full-time at the time of their loss to understand workplace leave use. The study will involve participating in an eligibility screener and if deemed eligible, you will receive an invite to complete the online survey.
Are you eligible?
You have experienced a pregnancy loss/miscarriage since March 2024
At the time of your loss, you were working full-time
You live and work in the United States
You have internet access
For any questions or more info, please contact Ashlee Van Schyndel (avansc6@uic.edu). To participate go to go.uic.edu/leavestudy.
New Podcast Shines a Light on Unpaid Family Caregivers
Did you know that more than one in five US adults provides unpaid care for a family member? The Care Economy is a new podcast that shines a light on unpaid family caregiving as a key economic and workplace issue in the US today. The podcast is produced by the USC Center for Advancing Family Caregiver Financial and Workplace Security at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. Hosted by former family caregiver Maureen Feldman, the podcast features the lived experience of caregivers as well as practical solutions from leaders in policy, finance, aging, and workplace benefits. Find out more or listen here!
COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION RESOURCES / RECURSOS DE INMIGRACIÓN PARA LA COMUNIDAD
This resource list is an ongoing collaboration between members of California Work & Family Coalition, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) and Immigrants Rising.
If you would like to add a resource please email info@workfamilyca.org.
Esta lista de recursos es una colaboración continua entre los miembros de California Work & Family Coalition, California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) y Immigrants Rising.
Si desea agregar un recurso, envíe un correo electrónico a info@workfamilyca.org.
