California Family Rights Act (CFRA) Expansion

California Family Rights Act (CFRA) Expansion

CFRA underwent narrow expansion last year, reducing the employer size requirements for parental leave. This year, CFRA expanded in multiple respects. First, the covered employer threshold decreased universally to five (5) or more employees in line with the Fair Employment & Housing Act’s (FEHA) covered employer threshold for most obligations. Second, CFRA expansion adds grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings to the list of covered relatives for protected family care leave. Third, exigency leave related to a spouse/domestic partner, parent, or child’s call to active military duty is also a protected CFRA-qualifying leave reason in line with federal law. The latter two changes also align closer to paid family leave wage replacement benefits available through the State.