There are no second opportunities to take the family and medical leave guaranteed by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). But, the time taken off productive work can add up to 12 work weeks during a 12 month period.

These weeks Californians can take are always the same, 12, but the amont of work time given up depends on their regular hours.

Leave Made to Measure

The California Family Rights Act guarantees the same 12 week long leave the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) does to give Californians the time they need to heal from a serious health conditon or take care of family. They can use their days off work slow or all in one leave, as they judge best. In the long run, if it takes more than a year to take the steps forward they want in their life at home, they have the opportunity to take more than the 12 weeks of leave. Workers who choose a year or shorter get the twelve weeks anyone can take during 12 months.

Twelve Work Weeks

Twelve weeks off the regular work schedule belongs to each worker. How many work hours the leave weeks add up to depends on the job. During twelve months, Californains that have regular full time jobs can take off 60 work days, or 480 hours. A Californian with a part-time job and a half-day schedule can take 60 weeks of half-days off, the same work time as 30 full time days. That adds up to 240 hours off.

Leave during a year is twelve hours less than 480 for every hour less than 40 in a week a worker works. Full time workers get full time leave and part-time workers get part time leave. Family and medical leave is leave that takes away the amount of a work burden a worker has during 12 weeks.

Rolling Twelve Months

Californians can fit their leave plans into the length of time they need to land back on their most productive feet. The 12 week limit lasts for 12 months, and then the worker has 12 weeks again, no matter how much time they used during the last twelve months. The 12 months are rolling. The time starts on the date of the first leave day.

Until the 12 months have passed, the amount of leave left is the 12 weeks minus the weeks and days already taken.

Weeks To Count On

Leave is guaranteed and has the one limit. The days are a Californian's to keep or take. A return to work can wait until the 12 work weeks are done.

Source:

Geneal Services Department, Family and Medical Rights Act and California Family Rights Act, FMLA/CFRA, Policies and Procedures (July, 2000).