Your Ultimate Guide to Paid Leave
Too many parents still don’t have access to paid leave. And for those who do, figuring out how to actually take their leave can feel impossible.
At What to Expect, we believe that every parent, everywhere, deserves access to paid leave — and more than just a few weeks of it. As our survey results show, the benefits associated with longer leaves are undeniable.
Until paid leave is federally guaranteed in the U.S., we’re here to help you research your leave options with confidence. We’ll also give you the tools you need to talk to your boss — and fight for more leave for moms (and dads!) everywhere.
Hear from Heidi Murkoff, the creator of What to Expect
Table of Contents
We Surveyed 2,000 Women About Paid Leave, and Here’s What They Said
6 in 10 Moms Find Paid Leave Confusing — We’re Here to Help
How to Advocate for More Paid Leave for All Parents
We Surveyed 2,000 Women About Paid Leave, and Here’s What They Said
Here’s How Much Leave Parents *Actually* Need
Moms Lose $9,500 by Taking Maternity Leave
I Used GoFundMe to Pay
for My Maternity Leave
Read Bianca’s story
6 in 10 Moms Find Paid Leave Confusing — We’re Here to Help
5 Things We All Need to Unlearn About Maternity Leave
You'll need to return to work when you're cleared by your doctor.
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You should tell your employer you're pregnant after 12 weeks.
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Your employer will tell you about all of the leave you're entitled to.
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You don't need to make a plan for your work when you're on leave.
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Fighting for more time off is too much of a hassle to be worthwhile.
Read more
Read Karla's story
Hiring a Parental Leave Consultant Was the Best $300 I Ever Spent
of moms are concerned about their job security after maternity leave.
Read Jennifer's story
I Was Laid Off on Maternity Leave ... Twice
Asking Your Boss for Leave the Right Way Can Help Protect Your Job
Get a script for telling your boss your big news — complete with tips from an employment lawyer on key phrases to include.
Read the full scripts
If you’re pregnant
Read the script
If you're a
non-birthing parent
Read the script
If you don't have rights to any leave
Read the script
Read Patrick's story
I Fought for Better Paternity Leave and Won
How to Decode Parental Leave Lingo
Here's an essential glossary for navigating all of your leave paperwork.
Family and Medical Leave Act
Maternity and paternity leave
Short-term disability
Family or bonding leave
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What to Know About Parental Leave if:
You Work for a Small Company
You're a
Non-Birthing Parent
You're a Single Parent
You're
Self-Employed
44
%
of moms report experiencing a pregnancy loss.
69
%
69% of them say they didn't get enough time off following
their loss.
Read Maura's story
I Convinced My Company to Give Me Pregnancy Loss Leave After My Miscarriage
How to Advocate for More Paid Leave
for All Parents
of moms agree they didn't get the time off they needed to recover before returning to work.
say they would contact someone in order to advocate for better paid leave policies.
Nearly 8 in 10
If you're among them, visit the What to Expect Project to contact your representatives and let them know why passing a law to guarantee paid family leave is so important to you and your community.
You Work for a Small Company
Unfortunately, FMLA (the Family and Medical Leave Act) only applies if you work for a company with at least 50 employees in a 75-mile radius. If you work for a company that’s smaller than that, you’ll want to read this advice.
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You're a Non-Birthing Parent
When you don’t give birth, you aren’t eligible for short-term disability. But you still might qualify for family or bonding leave, as well as a few other options.
Read more
You’re Self-Employed
Sometimes, you can opt to pay into a short-term disability program, depending on how your business is set up. But otherwise, it’ll be on you to decide how long you want your leave to be — and how to fund it.
Read more
You’re a Single Parent
When you’re the sole caregiver for your baby, it’s extra-important to make sure you’re taking advantage of any and all leave possible. You might have to get a little creative, but these tips should help.
Read more
Family and Medical Leave Act
Also known as FMLA, the Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law that lets you take 12 weeks of unpaid time off for certain family medical reasons, such as a child's birth, adoption or foster placement. Not every parent is eligible, though.
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Maternity and paternity leave
These aren't legal terms, but you probably hear (and use) them all the time. Your maternity or paternity leave is usually made up of chunks of short-term disability leave and other types of leave, such as regular old sick days.
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Short-term disability
Short-term disability is a type of paid leave you can take to recover from a medical condition, including some pregnancy complications and childbirth. It typically overlaps with FMLA and helps pay for some of that time off.
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Family or bonding leave
This leave is meant to give you time to bond with your baby. It can be paid or unpaid, depending on your state's laws. Eligible new parents can take bonding or family leave to care for a new child, whether or not they were the one who gave birth.
Read more
If you're among them, visit the What to Expect Project to contact your representatives and let them know why passing a law to guarantee paid family leave is so important to you and your community.
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