New San Francisco law reduces time for working parents to qualify for paid leave

A new law in San Francisco cuts in half the time parents must work for an employer to qualify for paid leave to be with a new child.

The legislation signed Friday by Mayor Daniel Lurie expands access to paid leave by reducing the time an employee must work for a covered employer from 180 days to 90 days.

“When San Francisco guaranteed fully paid parental leave 10 years ago, that law’s six-month waiting period put that support out of reach for too many parents,” Lurie said in a statement. “With this legislation, the city is showing up for parents so they can show up for their families.”

The expansion of paid parental leave was authored by District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter and co-sponsored by District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar, District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, District 11 Supervisor Chyanne Chen, District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, and Board President Rafael Mandelman, who represents District 8.

“This legislation—passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors—means that more San Francisco families can access these benefits when they need them most,” Sauter said. “As a new dad myself, I know raising a young child in this city is joyful but challenging, and I’ll continue to work for a San Francisco where young families can thrive.”

San Francisco’s Paid Parental Leave Ordinance, adopted by voters in 2016, applies to covered private-sector employers with 20 or more employees.

It helps eligible workers receive their full wages for up to eight weeks of parental leave by requiring employers to cover the difference between state benefits and an employee’s regular pay, according to the mayor’s office.

The updated eligibility requirements take effect 31 days after enactment. It will be phased in by employer size before applying to all covered employers. The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement will oversee implementation.

“San Francisco has the fewest children per capita of any major city in the country due to our affordability crisis,” Sherrill said. “This legislation makes it easier to start a family in San Francisco and ensures parents can bond with their newborns so they can thrive across generations.”