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Summer has officially come in , and across California, kids have returned to school. With the back-to-school season, employees who are also parents (defined as parents, guardians, grandparents, stepparents, foster parents or persons standing in loco parentis to a child) may be affected so employers should be aware of their obligations.
Beyond the first day shuffle which may come with requests for a little scheduling flexibility — the school year also means these employees have protected leaves of absence specific to having school-aged children, including:
School or child care activities leave, which allows employees who also are parents to use the time off for specific school and childcare activities (such as enrolling a child in school or attending a teacher conference, to name a couple); and
School appearance leave should the child be subject to disciplinary action.
Plus, when the kids return to school, sicknesses tend to return home with them and working parents may need to stay home to care for their unwell children and/or themselves. And California’s mandatory paid sick leave (PSL) law allows employees to use their paid sick days to care for a qualifying family member. (Or, if you have employees in one of the seven jurisdictions with their own local PSL ordinances Berkeley, Emeryville, the city of Los Angeles, Oakland, the city of San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Monica you may have stricter standards to follow.)
Not quite sure what to do as far as school-related leaves of absence? CalChamber can help. For assistance, turn to HRCalifornia — access is available for CalChamber members like you. Contact me directly for assistance with resources on HRCalifornia, and if you're a Preferred Member or higher, reach out to our Labor Law Helpline for any compliance questions.
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Testimonial Chamber101
Attending the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce’s “Chamber 101” class was an incredibly valuable experience. The session provided a clear and engaging overview of the Chamber’s mission, resources, and the many ways members can get involved and grow their businesses.
I walked away with practical insights on how to maximize my membership from networking opportunities and promotional tools on the Chamber website for community engagement strategies I hadn’t considered before.
What truly stood out was the welcoming atmosphere and the chance to connect with other local professionals. The class fostered genuine conversations and new relationships that I’m excited to build on. It was more than just an informational session it felt like the beginning of a stronger connection to the Fairfield business community.
I highly recommend “Chamber 101” to anyone looking to deepen their involvement and make the most of what the Chamber has to offer. It’s a smart first step toward meaningful growth and collaboration.
- Ken Sarna | The Coach Sarna League
