On Thursday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced paid parental leave for all state employees.
Both classified and unclassified state employees who are legal, adoptive, or foster parents are entitled to a parental leave benefit of six weeks at 100-percent pay within 12 weeks of a birth or placement for adoption or foster care to promote bonding with a new child.
Employees become eligible for the benefit after working for the state for at least one year, which mirrors eligibility for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The benefit becomes effective January 1, 2024.
"I'm thrilled to announce the adoption of paid parental leave for the nearly 70,000 state employees in Louisiana," said Gov. Edwards. "Paid parental leave means better outcomes for every family member, allowing parents to bond with their child without the financial stress of sacrificing their income, savings or paid sick days. By joining the 32 other states with paid parental leave policies, we are positioning ourselves to both attract and retain top talent in state. I believe this policy is pro-life, and I hope to see the legislature adopt it statewide in the near future. I’d like to thank State Civil Service, Representative Sam Jenkins, and Jackson Wright in my office for their hard work that made this possible."
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