District of Columbia Parental Leave Act

August 10th, 2005 Posted by Jane

I know that it’s not easy juggling work and family responsibilities. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to take some time off of work to attend school functions?  Well, in the District of Columbia, the Parental Leave Act makes it a matter of law. 

I know that under the law, which was passed in 1994, an employee has a right to leave work for a total of 24 hours in a 12-month period to attend or participate in school-related events. The employee must be the child’s parent; legal guardian, aunt, uncle, or grandparent. The school event must be one in which  the child is a participant or a subject.

Of course, there is some fine print in the act. First, the parental leave is unpaid, unless the employee wants to use their accrued vacation or sick time. Second, the employee must give at least 10 days notice of their intent to take the time off to their employer, unless there is an unforeseen event that prohibits this.

I know that an employer may deny the leave only if It will disrupt their business or cause an undue hardship to running their business. If an employee thinks that they were denied their rights, they have one year to make a complaint to the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights.

Not many states have made it a point to include such a law. The detials of the parental leave act are available for employees to view on the District of Columbia Complete Labor Law poster. All of the District of Columbia labor laws as well as federal labor laws are reflected. 

Last 10 posts by Jane

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Posted in District of Columbia, Employee Benefits, Family, Paid Leave

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