What to know about paid parental leave in North Carolina

Paid family leave is still not mandated in North Carolina, but new laws across the country are expanding access to benefits for expecting and new parents.

The big picture: The U.S. offers 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid family leave for some employees, but doesn't have a paid federal parental leave policy.

• Meanwhile, most countries guarantee paid maternity leave and paid paternity leave .

The latest: Pregnant people are now entitled to " reasonable accommodations " like the ability to telework and take time off for health care appointments, thanks to the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act .

• And because of the PUMP Act , breastfeeding parents are entitled to break time and a private place to pump (that's not the bathroom).

Between the lines: Without statewide requirements, there are two main ways to get wage replacement in North Carolina during parental leave, and they can be combined:

1. Through your employer.

• Only about 27% of Americans working in the private sector have access to paid family leave when they welcome a new child, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau.
• State government employees are eligible for up to eight weeks of paid parental leave .

Go deeper: Here are the parental leave policies of some of Charlotte's biggest employers .

2. From short-term disability , if you're a birthing parent .

• Workers could have the option to purchase short-term disability insurance as an add-on before they're pregnant.

What we're watching: With paid leave laws set to go into effect in 2026 in Delaware, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota, we'll see if there's any more movement in North Carolina.

Go deeper: How to determine your paid family leave plan

Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Charlotte.