{"id":6756,"date":"2024-10-07T13:05:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T13:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=6756"},"modified":"2026-02-05T04:13:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T09:13:47","slug":"california-pfl-pto","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employee-leaves\/california-pfl-pto\/","title":{"rendered":"California PFL: Employers can&#8217;t require employees to use PTO first"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8e1436f2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"\">by <strong>Robert S. Teachout<\/strong>, <strong>SHRM-SCP<\/strong>, Brightmine Legal Editor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Beginning January 1, 2025, employers in California will no longer be able to require employees to use up to two weeks of paid time off (PTO) or vacation leave before beginning to receive state paid family leave benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employee-leaves\/leave-laws-by-state-chart\/#california-leave-laws\">California has a paid family leave (PFL)<\/a> program that provides up to eight weeks of wage replacement benefits to workers who take time off work to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Bond with a newborn or adopted minor child; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Assist military family members during active duty.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Current law authorizes an employer to require an employee to take up to two weeks of earned but unused paid leave before, and as a condition of, the employee&#8217;s initial receipt of PFL benefits during any 12-month period of employee eligibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2123\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A.B. 2123<\/a>, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, that authorization is eliminated for any qualifying PFL event that commences on or after January 1, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers perceived benefits to their being able to require the use of up to two weeks of PTO or vacation before workers could begin collecting PFL benefits. Doing so could prevent employees from taking additional vacations shortly after an extended absence, thereby increasing the amount of time an employee could be away from work. It also is one of the few opportunities for an employer to require employees to use paid leave concurrently with other extended mandated leave, such as the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and California Family Rights Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers should review their policies on PTO or vacation, extended leaves of absence and employee benefits contributions with a qualified employment law attorney to see whether and how this change in the PFL law impacts their operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get the full picture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Subscribe to the HR &amp; Compliance Center today and access additional state-by-state employee leaves compliance information updated by our internal experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"font-size:14px\" class=\"\"><a href=\"\/us\/products\/hr-compliance-center\/#lexisnexis\">Proudly partnered with LexisNexis<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"166\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/07\/16090337\/LexisNexis-logo.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9646\" style=\"width:auto;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/quote\/?intcmp=cta|blog|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad1af2a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-ea1fff98 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-6756 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-hr-news topic-employee-leaves\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.274), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline; margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employee-leaves\/california-pfl-pto\/\" target=\"_self\" >California PFL: Employers can&#8217;t require employees to use PTO first<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-6938 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-c-and-i topic-employee-leaves topic-hr-technology\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.274), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline; margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employee-leaves\/hr-ai-tech-leaves-administration\/\" target=\"_self\" >AI and leaves administration: Risks and rewards<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout-150x150.webp\" alt=\"Robert Teachout, SHRM-SCP - Legal Editor at Brightmine\" class=\"wp-image-4983\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/07\/09090849\/Robert-Teachout.webp 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Robert S. Teachout, SHRM &#8211; SCP<\/strong><br>Legal Editor, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Robert Teachout has more than 30 years&#8217; experience in legal publishing covering employment laws on the state and federal level. At Brightmine, he covers labor relations, performance appraisals and promotions, succession and workforce planning, HR professional development and employment contracts. He often writes on the intersection of compliance with HR strategy and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Before joining Brightmine, Robert was a senior HR editor at Thompson Information Services, covering FMLA, ADA, EEO issues and federal and state leave laws. Prior to that he was the primary editor of Bloomberg BNA&#8217;s State Labor Laws binders and was the principal writer and editor of the State Wage Assignment and Garnishment Handbook. Robert also served as a union unit leader and shop steward in the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild of the Communications Workers of America. Actively involved in the HR profession, Robert is a member of SHRM at both the national and local levels, and gives back to the profession by serving as the communications vice president on the board of his local chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Connect with Robert on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/robertteachout\/\">LinkedIn<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HRCrossRdsComm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bbb7e64f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Start your free trial today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Register today to gain free 7-day access to the Brightmine HR &amp; Compliance Center and stay up to date, compliant and save valuable time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-primary-white-color has-secondary-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/hrcenter.us.brightmine.com\/freetrial-login\/?loggedInUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;registrationUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;intcmp=hrcc-resources|cta-2-col|light|banner|hrcenterus-freetrial|take-a-free-trial\" style=\"border-radius:26px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Take a free trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Beginning January 1, 2025, employers in California can no longer require employees to use up to two weeks of PTO or vacation leave before they can receive state paid family leave benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":7963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[55],"tags":[],"topic":[68],"class_list":["post-6756","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-news","topic-employee-leaves"],"_lnrs_read_more":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>California PFL: Employers can&#039;t require employees to use PTO first<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"California PFL news | Employers will no longer be able to require employees to use PTO before they can receive state paid family leave.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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