Employee leave planner

Whether you're looking into planning a leave or guiding an employee through the process, understanding the federal and state leave laws that apply is the first step.

See how it works in Cocoon

What type of leave are you taking?

• Parental leave: I’ll be caring for or bonding with a newborn or newly adopted or newly placed child.
• Medical leave: I have a health condition that I’ll be taking care of.
• Caregiver leave: I’ll be caring for a family member with a serious health condition.
• Military caregiver leave: I’ll be caring for a family member who is a covered service member with a serious injury or illness.

Using the employee leave planner

How do I know if the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies to me?

FMLA and other state entitlements typically only apply to companies with over 50 employees. Read more about FMLA eligibility below.

Does Cocoon guarantee these programs apply to me?

No, the employee leave planner is a tool designed to help you understand the leave laws that may apply to you. There are many factors that determine your specific leave eligibility not reflected here including, but not limited to:

• History of previous leaves
• Your company's office location
• Your work schedule and hours
• Any concurrent leaves
• Caregiver relationships covered by individual states
• Your company's policies

We suggest using the tool as a starting point for a conversation with your HR team about what leave you may be able to take.

What does Cocoon do again?

Cocoon is a leave management platform that uses first-of-its-kind technology to take the work out of employee leave. We partner with People teams at forward-thinking companies like Carta, Ironclad, and Vanta to save them hours per week, mitigate risk, and reduce stress for employees during life’s pivotal moments like welcoming a new baby or caring for a sick family member. Unlike traditional solutions, our software automates the most complex parts of compliance, claims, and payroll for a more efficient, modern, reliable experience. We support all FMLA leave types, personal leave, and ADA leave accommodations.

How do I see how much time I'm eligible for versus how much pay?

Use the time and pay toggle to switch your view between pay available from state programs and time available from state and federal programs. No matter where you live in the U.S., if you work for a private company over 50 employees and have worked there for over 12 months, you're likely entitled to protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Depending on what state you live in you may also be entitled to additional time, or your state may offer partial wage replacement for a portion of your leave.

FMLA and state law FAQ

What are qualifying leave reasons under FMLA or other state programs?

The following reasons are the qualifying leave reasons under FMLA:

• The birth of a child, and to bond with the newborn child;
• The placement of a child for adoption or foster care, and to bond with that child;
• To care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent – but not a parent “in-law”) with a serious health condition;
• To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition; or
• For qualifying reasons due to the employee’s spouse, child, or parent being on covered active duty or call to covered active duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces.

State programs may cover additional leave reasons (i.e., domestic violence, bereavement, organ donation). In particular, some states expand the relationships covered for caregiver leaves beyond a spouse, child, or parent to include siblings, grandparents, parents-in-law, and more.

What does it mean for a state or federal law to give "protected leave"?

Protected leave means that if you meet the necessary requirements, your employer is required by law to allow you to take leave, cannot discriminate or retaliate against you for doing so, and must hold your job or an equivalent job until your protected leave is over. This does not, however, exempt you from being laid off or otherwise terminated for a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason.

What does "partial pay" mean?

State leave programs that provide leave pay often provide partial wage replacement. It varies by state, but those that have paid leave programs often pay a designated percentage of your salary, up to a weekly maximum. For instance, Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML) offers up to 90% pay with a weekly maximum of $1,427 (as of September 2023).

Where can I learn more about leave laws?

The U.S. is a complex web of leave laws. Check out our interactive map to see all current and upcoming parental, medical, and caregiver leave laws by state.

How do I know if I'm eligible for FMLA or other state programs?

FMLA applies to private employers with 50 or more employees. To be eligible for leave under FMLA, you must:

• Have worked at your company for at least 12 months
• Have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months leading up to the leave, and
• Be employed at a location with 50 or more employees within 75 miles of the employee’s worksite.

FMLA also permits states to set standards that are more expansive and some states have done that. Be sure to check the specific eligibility requirements of any state programs that may apply to your leave. You can find links to the most common state programs here.