Colorado Passes Paid Family and Medical Leave Law

On November 3, 2020, Coloradans overwhelmingly voted for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act (“PFML”) by a margin of 57% to 43%, securing Colorado workers up to 12 weeks of paid leave to address a variety of personal and family caregiving obligations.  Colorado joins 8 other states and Washington, D.C. in enacting legislation that guarantees paid family and medical leave for employees. 

Starting January 1, 2024, employees – who have worked for their employer for at least 180 days and earned over $2,500 in wages – can begin receiving up to $1,100 each week while taking PFML leave.  Employees may use this paid leave to bond with a new child, recover from a serious health condition, care for a seriously ill loved one, respond to military family needs, and address domestic violence and sexual assault.

The PFML also creates job protections for employees who take paid family and medical leave, and employers may not discipline or take retaliatory actions against workers for requesting or using paid leave.  If a worker’s rights under the PFML are violated, a worker may seek reinstatement and recover back and front pay, liquidated damages, and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

Workers who believe they were improperly denied paid leave or subjected to other workplace violations should seek legal counsel to analyze their potential claims.