Other Leaves: District of Columbia

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Authors: Stuart R. Buttrick, Susan W. Kline and Tareen Zafrullah, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Summary

• There are various types of leave that may be available to an employee in the District of Columbia. See Leaves of Absence.
• The District of Columbia Family and Medical Leave Act covers employers that employ 20 or more employees. See Family and Medical Leave.
• The Universal Paid Leave Amendment Act provides an employee with paid parental, family, medical and prenatal leave benefits that are funded by employer contributions. See Paid Family and Medical Leave.
• All employees in the District of Columbia are entitled to paid sick and safe leave. See Paid Sick Leave.
• All employees who fall under a broad definition of "parent" are entitled to leave to attend student-related activities. See School Activities Leave.
• An employer may be required to provide a leave of absence as a reasonable accommodation for an employee who is a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking. See Domestic Violence Leave and Accommodation.
• A covered employer must provide an eligible employee with paid jury duty leave. See Jury Duty Leave.
• An employer may not deprive an employee of employment or threaten or otherwise coerce an employee because the employee receives a summons or responds to a summons. See Witness Duty Leave.
• District of Columbia employers must provide up to two hours of paid time off to vote. See Voting Leave.
• An employee may take an unpaid leave on April 16 each year. See Emancipation Day Leave.
• An employer has an affirmative duty to provide students some leave to permit them to register for classes, if such a reasonable accommodation can be made. See Student Leave.