Paternity Leave

Paternity leave is not "normally" paid. Neither is maternity leave. At least not in most states. What it does is give the new parent the option of taking unpaid extended time off and still return to their job. If giving birth, however, I think that short-term disability, if your company offers it, gives you partial salary for up to 6 weeks.

ETA: Have your hubby chat with his human resources person.

OMG-no wonder California is going broke.

Your husband really needs to get this information from his firm's human resources person. It's great that CA has this leave but he must work out his dates, whether he is paid, etc. through his company's HR, not through some state web site which will have basic info but not details on how his particular employer runs this program. Also, he needs to be in close coordination with his manager or supervisor about how his work will be handled while he's on leave, so he shows he's a responsible employee an will be ready to step back in when he returns. Go to HR for details and to work out the leave.

I would have him talk to his HR department to see what their protocol is on that. Like others said it would tie into FLMA. I know for where I work if I take FLMA I get paid for any sick and vacation time I have accrued. I am sure it would be the same thing.

You've gotten some misinformation.
Google "California Paid Family Leave." CA is the first state to offer paid maternity/paternity leave. It's not paid by your employer, it's paid by the state. Other states also offer this. The amount paid is figured out much like unemployment (years of service, salary, etc.)

Here is some info:
http://www.ehow.com/about_###-###-####_california-paterni...

There's also a link to request a claim form.

Paid leave of any kind is at the discretion of his employer, so you will have to ask them specifically for specifics about that.

FMLA leave is another thing entirely, and it is not paid. FMLA allows your husband to take up to 12 weeks, unpaid, to care for his child.

I think the "paid" part will be up to his employer. But he will qualify for FMLA I believe which is up to 12 weeks "un" paid leave but it gaurantees they hold his job. You can google FMLA to get more info -

The FMLA laws state that you can take maternity/paternity leave for the birth or adoption of a baby/child. If the company employs enough people and you have worked there long enough (12 months) and worked a minimum number of hours, you qualify for up to 12 weeks leave...it does not stipulate that it is paid leave. Paid leave would be determined by available personal or vacation time or company policy/benefits. Your husband's HR department can provide the necessary information you seek (and would know if CA law stipulates something above and beyond the Federal FMLA requirements).

Hello and congrats!

I was just looking at this stuff because I am due in January and my friend is due in December. She didn't know that the State paid maternity and also has "bonding time" (which is what they call paternity leave) when she has her daughter 5 years ago. My husband got this with our daughter 5 years ago, if I remember correctly it's a pretty simple process of filling out a form and I think having a DR fill out part and submitting it.

The state pays 60% of your husbands pay within the first 12 months of your child birth. It's money he has paid into over the years. Here is a link to the state page:

http://www.edd.ca.gov/Disability/PFL_Eligibility.htm

Best of luck!

CA does have partial paid paternity leave, appears to be 6 weeks max, best your husband talk to his HR and boss now for the particulars in his case, especially since you are due in December as timing (theirs, not yours) affects the workflow in some companies. You should also read the attached link so you will have a "heads up":

http://www.babycenter.com/0_paternity-leave-what-are-the-...

Its been so long b/c my daughter is six, but I live in Ca and I think got paid family leave through the state. I know for sure it wasn't my employer paying for it. Its hard to remember b/c I got disability for a month before I had my daughter b/c I was on bedrest and then I got maternity or maybe it was called family leave after that. It was definately a ck from the state. I know I had to go back after 3mo, (that was the max I got from my benefits).

M.:

You need to look at your husband's benefit's package.

Maternity and Paternity leave is NOT paid time off unless you have it accrued.

here is the official website: http://www.dol.gov/compliance/laws/comp-fmla.htm

Since we have NO federally-mandated paid parental leave in the US, your husband would have paid leave for paternity only if his employer chooses to provide it. Most women end up with 6 weeks of paid maternity leave because delivery and recovery from it are considered medical conditions (short-term medical disability) and therefore health insurance plans pay one's salary for that time. The father (or adoptive parents) don't qualify for that paid leave. Federal law does require that employers with over 50 employees (I think) allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of UNPAID leave without fear of being fired. As someone else said, you'll want to look up FMLA to get the exact information. It might be worth seeing if CA has some kind of legislation regarding paid parental leave. Also, your husband will need to talk to his employer's Human Resources folks to get clear on the company's policies. Good luck, and it's wonderful that your husband IS going to take paternity leave. Too few fathers do!

[ETA: It's sooo cool to hear that CA does have paid parental leave. Ignore everything I typed, except the last sentence.]