Fathers match mothers in paid leave claims across several American states

Fathers are taking paid parental leave at rates equal to or higher than mothers in several American states with dedicated programs, KFF Health News reported. Karlo Campana, a father of three in Southern California, took paid time off in May following the birth of his son, having taken similar leave for his older daughters. [1]

The United States lacks a federal law guaranteeing paid parental leave for workers. The rise in fathers filing for state benefits comes as a growing number of Americans report that raising children has become financially unaffordable, according to KFF Health News. [1]

In California, the Paid Family Leave insurance program was enacted in 2002 to expand unemployment disability compensation. It allows eligible workers to receive payments for up to eight weeks to bond with a new child or care for a sick family member, covering about 60 to 90 percent of weekly earnings. [3]

The increasing adoption of paid family leave benefits by fathers highlights a shift in how parents manage early childcare demands within state-supported systems. [1]