Utah Paid Family Leave Laws

As of January 3, 2025, Utah does not have a state-mandated Paid Family Leave (PFL) program for private-sector employees. Employees in Utah are covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. Additionally, Utah offers specific leave benefits for state employees and mandates reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees under the Utah Antidiscrimination Act.

What is Paid Family Leave?

Paid Family Leave (PFL) allows employees to take compensated time off from work to address significant family needs, such as bonding with a new child, caring for a seriously ill family member, or attending to their own health conditions. PFL supports employees in balancing work responsibilities with essential family obligations without financial hardship.

Does Utah Have Paid Family Leave Laws That Differ from Federal Family Leave Laws?

Utah does not have a state-mandated PFL program for private-sector employees. However, the state has implemented policies for state employees that provide certain paid leave benefits. For instance, state employees may use accrued sick leave for maternity, paternity, and adoption care. Additionally, Utah provides up to seven days of paid leave for bone marrow donors and up to 30 days for organ donors among state employees.

What Counts as a Qualifying Event for Paid Family Leave in Utah?

For state employees utilizing accrued sick leave, qualifying events include:

• Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Care: Leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
• Preventive Health and Dental Care: Leave for medical appointments and procedures.
• Illness or Injury: Leave due to the employee’s own illness or injury, or that of a spouse or dependents living in the employee’s home.

For all employees under the FMLA, qualifying events include:

• Birth and Care of a Newborn Child: Leave to bond with and care for a newborn within the first year of birth.
• Adoption or Foster Care Placement: Leave for the placement of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement.
• Serious Health Condition: Leave to care for a spouse, child, or parent with a serious health condition, or for the employee’s own serious health condition.
• Military Family Leave: Leave for qualifying exigencies related to a family member’s active-duty military service or to care for a service member with a serious injury or illness.

Are There Requirements to be Eligible for Paid Family Leave in Utah?

Eligibility criteria for state employees to utilize accrued sick leave include:

• Employment Status: Must be a benefited state employee.
• Accrual of Leave: Employees accrue sick leave with pay at the rate of four hours each pay period and may begin to use accrued sick leave after completing the equivalent of at least two full pay periods of employment.

For all employees under the FMLA, eligibility criteria include:

• Employer Coverage: The employer must have 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius.
• Employee Tenure: The employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months (not necessarily consecutive).
• Hours Worked: The employee must have completed at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12 months preceding the leave.

Is There a Minimum Amount of Paid Family Leave Time Required in Utah?

Utah does not mandate a minimum amount of paid family leave time for private-sector employees. State employees may use accrued sick leave for qualifying events, with sick leave accruing at a rate of four hours per pay period. Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave within a 12-month period for qualifying events.

Is There a Minimum Amount of Maternity Leave Time Required in Utah?

Utah does not require private-sector employers to provide maternity leave beyond the provisions of the FMLA. State employees may use accrued sick leave for maternity care, with sick leave accruing at a rate of four hours per pay period. Additionally, the Utah Antidiscrimination Act requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related conditions, which may include leave from work.

Is Paternity Leave Required by Law in Utah?

Utah does not mandate paternity leave for private-sector employees. State employees may use accrued sick leave for paternity care, with sick leave accruing at a rate of four hours per pay period. Under the FMLA, eligible employees, regardless of gender, can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to bond with a newborn, adopted, or foster child within one year of birth or placement.

Who Pays for Paid Family Leave in Utah?

In the absence of a state-mandated PFL program, there is no designated funding mechanism for paid family leave in Utah. State employees utilizing accrued sick leave receive their regular compensation during the leave period, funded by the state. Leave under the FMLA is unpaid. Any paid leave offered by private employers is funded at their discretion, often through accrued sick leave, vacation time, or other employer-provided benefits.

Conclusion

Utah does not have a state-mandated Paid Family Leave program for private-sector employees. Employees are covered under the federal FMLA, which provides unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying family and medical reasons. State employees have access to certain paid leave benefits through accrued sick leave and other provisions. Employers and employees should familiarize themselves with both state provisions for public employees and federal FMLA regulations to understand their rights and responsibilities regarding family and medical leave.