{ "name": "medfrail.com caregiver leave", "version": "2026-10-26", "note": "The laws that can let a worker take time off to care for a family member and keep their job. Every line says what the agency's own page says, and names that page and the day it was read. Where the agency publishes no amount, amount is empty and the page says 'Ask the agency'. Your employer and the agency decide; this file only says what the agency page says. Read 2026-10-26.", "fields": { "id": "short key", "program": "the law or program", "agency": "who runs it", "area": "US = every state; CO = Colorado only", "paid": "yes = you are paid during leave; no = unpaid but job-protected", "what": "what it gives you, in plain words", "who_it_is_for": "who the agency page says is covered", "amount": "the time and pay the agency publishes; empty when it publishes none", "how_to_ask": "how to ask for it, from the agency page", "phone": "the agency's own number, as it prints it", "match": "the tap answers that make this row show first (a hint for the person, never a decision)", "source": "the agency page the row was read from", "read": "the day that page was read", "quotes": "exact words from the source page; every number in the row appears in one of them" }, "programs": [ { "id": "fmla", "program": "Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)", "agency": "U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division", "area": "US", "paid": "no", "what": "Unpaid, job-protected leave to care for your spouse, child or parent who has a serious health condition. Your group health benefits continue on the same terms. You can take it all at once, or in pieces or a reduced schedule when medically necessary. Under the FMLA, 'parent' does not include parents-in-law.", "who_it_is_for": "You work for a covered employer (a private employer with 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks this year or last year, or any public agency or school), you have worked there at least 12 months and at least 1,250 hours in the 12 months before leave, and your work location has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.", "amount": "Up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period. Up to 26 workweeks in a single 12-month period to care for a servicemember with a serious injury or illness.", "how_to_ask": "Talk to your employer about your leave needs; that is how you request FMLA leave. Questions or a problem: call the Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243. Your state labor department can tell you if state law gives you more.", "phone": "1-866-487-9243", "links": [ { "label": "How to talk to your employer about leave", "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/how-to-talk-to-your-employer-about-leave" }, { "label": "Your state labor department", "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/contacts" } ], "match": { "state": "any", "who": ["parent", "spouse", "child"] }, "source": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla", "read": "2026-10-26", "quotes": [ "The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons and requires continuation of their group health benefits under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave.", "For eligible employees, up to 12 workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for any of the following qualifying reasons:", "To care for the employee's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition,", "may take up to 26 workweeks of leave during a single 12-month period to care for the servicemember.", "Private-sector employers who employ 50 or more employees in 20 or more workweeks in either the current calendar year or the previous calendar year,", "Public agencies (including federal, state, and local government employers), regardless of the number of employees, and", "Work for a covered employer for at least 12 months,", "Have at least 1,250 hours of service with the employer during the 12 months before their FMLA leave starts, and", "Work at a location where the employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles.", "This term does not include parents-in-law.", "employees must communicate with their employer about their leave needs.", "Call 1-866-487-9243", "Check with your State Labor Department to determine if you have additional or greater protections under state law." ] }, { "id": "co_famli", "program": "Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI)", "agency": "Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, FAMLI Division", "area": "CO", "paid": "yes", "what": "Paid leave to care for a family member's serious health condition, taken all at once, in pieces, or as a reduced schedule. Your job is protected once you have been with your employer more than 180 days, and your health coverage continues (you keep paying your share). FAMLI looks at more than blood and marriage when deciding who counts as family.", "who_it_is_for": "Most Colorado employees, once they have earned $2,500 in Colorado wages in the last 5 completed calendar quarters. Not covered: federal employees, workers under the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, Tribal Nation employees on tribal land, and employees of a local government that opted out (they can opt in). Self-employed people can opt in.", "amount": "Most employees: up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Pay is up to 90% of your average weekly wage, with lower earners getting a higher share, capped at $1,448 a week as of July 1, 2026.", "how_to_ask": "File a claim in My FAMLI+ up to 30 days before your leave starts and no later than 30 days after it starts (31 to 90 days late is considered only with good cause). FAMLI notifies your employer. FAMLI Contact Center: 1-866-263-2654.", "phone": "1-866-263-2654", "links": [ { "label": "FAMLI benefits calculator", "url": "https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/how-famli-works/premium-and-benefits-calculator" }, { "label": "FAMLI and FMLA together", "url": "https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/how-famli-works/famli-and-fmla" } ], "match": { "state": "CO", "who": ["parent", "spouse", "child", "inlaw", "other"] }, "source": "https://famli.colorado.gov/individuals-and-families/individuals-and-families-faqs", "read": "2026-10-26", "quotes": [ "Care for a family member’s serious health condition", "FAMLI offers paid job-protected leave once an employee has been at their employer for more than 180 days (about six months).", "Most Colorado employees are eligible for FAMLI leave after they have earned $2,500 in total wages within Colorado during the last 5 completed calendar quarters.", "A federal employee.", "Covered by the federal Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act.", "An employee of a Tribal Nation working on tribal land.", "Self employed individuals have the option to voluntarily opt into the program", "Most employees are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave.", "FAMLI wage replacement benefits will be paid at a rate of up to 90% of the employee’s average weekly wage with lower wage earners receiving a higher percentage.", "Benefits are capped at $1,448 per week as of July 1, 2026.", "While you are on leave, you and your dependents are entitled to the same healthcare benefits. You are still responsible for paying your portion for the benefits that you would pay while you were working.", "FAMLI understands that the word “family” may mean something different to you.", "A claimant can open a planned FAMLI Leave of any kind 30 days prior to the first date of the absence and up to 30 days after an absence.", "Any FAMLI claim filed between 31-90 days after the first date of absence will be considered if the Claimant also establishes good cause for the delay.", "When you submit your claim, the employer or employers you list will be notified.", "Call the FAMLI Contact Center at 1-866-263-2654." ] }, { "id": "co_hfwa", "program": "Colorado paid sick leave (Healthy Families and Workplaces Act)", "agency": "Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics", "area": "CO", "paid": "yes", "what": "Paid sick leave you earn as you work, which you can use to care for a family member who is ill, injured or needs medical care. It is paid at your normal rate, cannot be counted against you as an absence, and you have the right to return to work.", "who_it_is_for": "All employees in Colorado, whatever the employer's size.", "amount": "At least 1 hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours a year. Your employer can ask for documentation only for an absence of four or more days in a row.", "how_to_ask": "Tell your employer you are taking paid sick leave to care for a family member. Questions: Colorado Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, 303-318-8441.", "phone": "303-318-8441", "links": [ { "label": "INFO #6: Colorado paid sick leave summary (PDF)", "url": "https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/info_%236_hfwa_summary_%26_overview_07.19.23.pdf" } ], "match": { "state": "CO", "who": ["parent", "spouse", "child", "inlaw", "other"] }, "source": "https://cdle.colorado.gov/sites/cdle/files/info_%236_hfwa_summary_%26_overview_07.19.23.pdf", "read": "2026-10-26", "quotes": [ "Accrued leave — one hour per 30 hours worked, up to 48 per benefit year, for a wide range of needs:", "care for a family member who needs the sort of care listed above;", "pay must be given for all time on leave, without extra delay, and at the same pay rate as time worked;", "not counted against employees as absences that that may lead to firing or other negative action; and", "with a right to return to work, without retaliation, or other acts interfering with taking leave and return.", "All employers must provide HFWA leave to all employees in Colorado – regardless of the employer’s size, industry, headquarters site, or exemption from other laws.", "only for absences of four or more consecutive days", "call 303-318-8441", "Employers must provide at least 1 hour of accrued, paid leave per 30 hours of work, up to 48 hours per year." ] }, { "id": "other_states", "program": "Paid leave in other states: check your state", "agency": "U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau", "area": "US", "paid": "varies", "what": "There is no federal law that pays private-sector workers during family leave. Some states have their own paid family and medical leave programs, and many states and cities have paid sick leave laws. The Department of Labor keeps a map with links to each state's agency.", "who_it_is_for": "Workers outside Colorado. Each state sets its own rules.", "amount": "", "how_to_ask": "Open the Department of Labor's state map, find your state, and follow the link to your state's agency. Or ask your state labor office.", "phone": "", "links": [ { "label": "State paid family and medical leave map", "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/paid-leave/State-Paid-Family-Medical-Leave-Laws" }, { "label": "Your state labor office", "url": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/contacts" } ], "match": { "state": "other", "who": ["parent", "spouse", "child", "inlaw", "other"] }, "source": "https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/featured-paid-leave", "read": "2026-10-26", "quotes": [ "there is currently no federal law providing or guaranteeing access to paid family and medical leave for workers in the private sector. However, some states have their own paid leave programs and requirements.", "There is currently no federal law guaranteeing access to paid sick leave, although many states and localities have passed paid sick leave laws.", "This interactive map provides information on the current landscape of state paid family and medical leave laws across the country, with links to the state agencies where workers can learn more about their rights and apply for benefits." ] } ], "hand_off": { "name": "Paid to care", "what": "Programs that can pay a family member to give care: Colorado CDASS and IHSS, Medicaid self-direction in every state, and the VA caregiver programs.", "url": "https://www.medfrail.com/paid-to-care" } }