Parental leave in the United States

Parental leave (also known as family leave) is an employment-protected leave of absence regulated in the United States by US labor law and state law. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for parents of newborn or newly adopted children if they work for a company with 50 or more employees. As of October 1, 2020, the same policy has been extended to caregivers of sick family members or a partner in direct relation to the child's birth, therefore responsible for the mother's care. Although 12 weeks are allowed for American fathers, they only take 10 days off on average due to financial need. That is below the 16-week minimum recommended by the World Health Organization.

Currently, twelve states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to provide paid leave and paid parental leave to employees. With an additional 10 states offering a voluntary paid leave option that provides optional paid leave coverage that employers and individuals can purchase through private insurers. As of 2024, the United States is the only country among the 38 member OECD nations that has not passed laws requiring businesses and corporations to offer paid maternity leave to their employees. While the United States does not mandate paid parental leave, proponents argue that this labor market flexibility upholds principles of economic freedom and allows businesses to offer higher wages, as reflected in the U.S.'s position among the top OECD countries for average earnings even after adjusting for purchasing power.