Paid Parental Leave Ordinance and the Coronavirus

The Paid Parental Leave Ordinance (PPLO), along with all other San Francisco labor laws, remains in full effect.  The PPLO requires that employers provide supplemental compensation for employees who are receiving Paid Family Leave benefits for bonding with a new child.  PPLO supplemental compensation is not a tax, and therefore there are no deferrals for this mandated compensation to employees.

San Francisco workers need access to income replacement now more than ever.  The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement expects that all covered employers will continue to fully comply with their legal obligation to provide supplemental compensation.

For business assistance resources during the coronavirus outbreak, go to https://oewd.org/assistance-guidance-businesses-and-workers-impacted-covid-19

New! Paid Parental Leave compensation will extend to 8 weeks as of July 1, 2020. The State of California recently passed SB-83, which will extend Paid Family Leave benefits from 6 weeks to 8 weeks for claims starting on or after July 1, 2020. The San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Ordinance requires employers to pay “supplemental compensation” for the full period that a covered employee receives Paid Family Leave to bond with a child. When this period increases from 6 to 8 weeks next year, all covered employers will be required to extend their Paid Parental Leave compensation from 6 to 8 weeks as well. Sign up for the OLSE email list to receive updates & new materials.If you have questions about 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave, please contact the California Employment Development Department (EDD).

Overview

A “Covered Employee” entitled to supplemental compensation under the PPLO is an employee:

1. Who began employment with the covered employer at least 180 days prior to the start of the leave period; 
2. Who performs at least eight hours of work per week for the employer in San Francisco;
3. At least 40% of whose total weekly hours worked for the employer are in San Francisco; and
4. Who is eligible to receive paid family leave compensation under the California Paid Family Leave law for the purpose of bonding with a new child.

• The State Paid Family Leave wage replacement rate is 60% or 70%, subject to a maximum benefit amount, with the higher percentage for those employees earning 30% or less of the California average wage.

Statutory Authority

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Paid Parental Leave Ordinance on April 12, 2016.

• Paid Parental Leave Ordinance, San Francisco Police Code, Article 33H 
• San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Rules
• Frequently Asked Questions

Forms and Documents

• Paid Parental Leave Poster must be displayed at each workplace or job site
• Step-by-Step Guides for the PPLO process:
  • English:   Employee's Step-by-Step Guide and Employer's Step-by-Step Guide
  • Chinese:  Employee's Step-by-Step Guide and Employer's Step-by-Step Guide
  • Spanish:  Employee's Step-by-Step Guide and Employer's Step-by-Step Guide

• Employers must provide the San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Form to employees in San Francisco, and employees must complete and submit the form to their employer to receive supplemental compensation. 
  • Instructions and Form English
  • Instructions and Form Spanish
  • Instructions and Form Chinese

• San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Calculator
  • PPLO Excel Calculator download for 2020 Claim Effective Dates: click here.   
  • PPLO Excel Calculator download for 2019 Claim Effective Dates: click here.
  • Calculation Instructions - Step-by-step instructions on calculating the amount of Supplemental Compensation a Covered Employer must pay to a Covered Employee.