Bereavement Leave for Chosen or Extended Family Signed by Governor Newsom

On September 27th, Governor Newsom signed SB 1149 which will update California's existing bereavement leave law that allows workers to take 5 unpaid days off to grieve. The update to this law will go into effect January 1, 2027 so workers can take Bereavement Leave for their Chosen or Extended Family. Share this exciting update on Instagram!

Thank you to all our Coalition Members and allies who made this possible and supported this bill! Your advocacy makes a difference! The California Work & Family Coalition was a cosponsor of SB 1149 along with AARP California, Equal Rights Advocates, The California Employment Lawyers Association, California Coalition on Family Caregiving, Equality California, California for Safety and Justice, and Our Family Coalition.

Author of SB 1149 Senator María Elena Durazo (D Los Angeles) stated the importance of this bill “When someone we love dies, we all need time to grieve. California law allows workers to care for seriously ill chosen and extended family members and those workers should also be able to take time to grieve, if their loved one dies”.

Yvette Cervantes, Orange County Caregiver and California Work & Family Coalition Steering Committee member said in a press release “Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences you can have. Being told that your love does not count under bereavement leave makes that pain much harder. Now that SB 1149 is signed into law, California workers will see their families honored in our bereavement leave law. Love isn’t limited to immediate family and grief isn’t either".

Click here to read the press release featuring more quotes from cosponsors.

Educators Win Paid Pregnancy Leave

Great News! Starting January 1 2027, eligible employees at public schools will be able to take up to 14 weeks of Paid Pregnancy Leave. This important change was led by the California Teacher’s Association. The California Work & Family Coalition has proudly supported this effort over the past two years.

Previously, educators have been forced to plan their births around summer break, endure financial strain, return back to work soon after having a child, and negatively impact their retirement security. Now eligible workers will be able to take Paid Pregnancy Leave when experiencing or recovering from pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth, termination of pregnancy or related medical conditions.

For more information, read CTA’s Paid Pregnancy Leave Q&A available here.

Join Us: The Annual Statewide Meeting is Coming Up!

Join us on Friday, November 6th, from 10 am - 2 pm, on Zoom for our Annual Statewide Meeting! This year we’re going virtual to bring together more Coalition members and allies from across California!

This year we’ll be sharing key findings from a new Paid Family Leave study, as well as reflecting on our wins, discussing emerging trends, and setting our direction for 2027.

Whether you’re a longtime member or new to the Coalition, this is a chance to share your voice, deepen relationships, and help shape the work ahead.

If you are interested in attending for the first time and would like more information, please contact us at info@workfamilyca.org.

Coalition Staff Lead Training for Domestic Violence Prevention Advocates

On Tuesday, September 8th, Coalition staff members, Jasmine Amian and Katie Duberg, collaborated with the CA Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV) Economic Justice Peer Learning Cohort to lead a training on how Paid Leave supports economic security, an important factor in the prevention of domestic violence. The workshop drew 17 participants from across California, Texas and Illinois, to learn about their Paid Leave rights.

Thank you to everyone who joined and to Jessie Towne-Cardenas and CPEDV for your partnership!

Child Care Law Center Celebrates Child Care Wins at Annual Event

Coalition Director, Jenya Cassidy, attended the annual event, Uncorking the Future of Child Care to celebrate the substantial work of the Child Care Law Center and allied organizations focused on supporting children, parents, and child care providers. The event, held this year on September 12th at Town Fare Cafe in the Oakland Museum of California, featured Bay Area-based Black women vintners and food by local gourmet chef, Michele Mcqueen. The Child Care Law Center is a long time Coalition member advocating to make child care an accessible civil right