Paid parental leave expanding but not in Pennsylvania

A growing number of states are expanding access to paid parental leave , but the benefit isn't guaranteed in Pennsylvania.

Why it matters: Most families can't afford to take unpaid leave, and studies have shown the benefit can lead to a wide range of positive outcomes for birthing parents, children, families and employers.

The big picture: At least nine states and Washington, D.C., have mandatory paid family leave systems in place, per the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Another four states have laws waiting to take effect.

State of play: 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 parental leave .

Zoom in: Pregnant people in the U.S. are now entitled to " reasonable accommodations " like the ability to telework and take time off for health care appointments, thanks to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that went into effect last year.

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

🧮 By the numbers: In Pennsylvania, an estimated 66% of workers didn't have access to paid family and medical leave benefits in 2022, per the U.S. Census Bureau .

• Public state workers have seen their paid parental leave benefits expand since then — from eight weeks for eligible employees up from six.

Zoom out: All workers in neighboring New Jersey are guaranteed up to 12 consecutive weeks of parental leave , plus as much as 85% of their average weekly wages.

• Meanwhile, Delaware's new paid leave benefits go fully into effect in 2026.

How it works: Without statewide requirements, there are two main ways to get wage replacement in Pennsylvania during parental leave, and they can be combined:

1. Through your employer.
2. From short-term disability , if you're a birthing parent .
3. 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 next year in Maine, Maryland and Minnesota, we'll see if there's any movement in the Pennsylvania legislature.