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Congress Agrees to Provide Paid Parental Leave to FedsPaid Parental Leave

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which the House approved, on December 11, extends family leave benefits to federal employees for the first time.  The new benefit offers 12 weeks of paid leave for federal workers to care for a newborn, adoption or fostering of a child.  The provision only applies to workers who have worked for the government for at least a year, and mandates that they must stay for at least another 12 weeks after their return, though this requirement can be waived if the parent or child suffers an uncontrollable medical issue that prevents the parent’s return to work. If the NDAA passes

                Although the bill is far less generous than Democrats wanted, it is still a major expansion of benefits for federal employees.  The Democrat passed bill in the House included paid time off to care for a child, parent or spouse with a serious health condition or when a family member is deployed for military duty, all of which was included in the House passed bill.  Military families were granted 12 weeks of paid parental leave in 2016 by Secretary of Defense Carter.