D.C.'s New Paid Leave Act Offers Relief to New Parents, Caregivers & Those Struggling with Health Conditions

The District of Columbia's new Paid Leave Act will offer additional support to new parents, caregivers, and people struggling with a medical issue. Effective July 2020, eligible employees will have up to eight weeks of parental leave to bond with a new child, six weeks of family leave to care for an ill family member, and two weeks of medical leave to care for one's own serious health condition.

While the program benefits will go into effect next year, the act will begin impacting employers beginning this summer. Starting in July 2019, eligible employers (those with 20 or more employees) will be subject to a new 0.62% payroll tax.

Eligible employees:

• Have worked for the employer for at least one year without a break in service
• Have worked for at least 1,000 hours during the 12-months preceding the request for leave
• The maximum amount of paid leave is $1,000.

We will continue to monitor the law as it is implemented. Visit the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services website for more details.