In honor of Father’s Day, the Employment Development Department (EDD) of California is shining a light on its pioneering Paid Family Leave (PFL) Program. Californians are urged to visit Paid Family Leave for Fathers to discover how they can access financial assistance when needing leave from work for familial care. California introduced the very first Paid Family Leave program in the U.S over two decades ago. This offers critical financial aid to employees needing time off to bond with a newborn, adopted or foster child, care for a sick relative, or support a military family member on duty overseas. Those eligible can secure up to eight weeks of benefits to allocate time to vital family moments.

EDD Director, Nancy Farias, champions the state’s PFL program for its role in fortifying family units, as it provides the necessary aid to working fathers who need time off to attend to their family’s needs. Since its establishment in 2004, the EDD has given over $17 billion in benefits to compensate workers’ loss of income when taking time off to care for their relatives. Male participation in the program has seen an upward trend, with men accounting for 43% of all bonding claims in 2025, compared with a mere 15% in 2004.

In 2025, California outstandingly ramped up its PFL and Disability Insurance benefits, covering up to 90% of workers’ regular pay - a significant increase easing the process for Californians needing work leave for familial care. The EDD encourages new fathers and those responsible for caring for family members to explore more concerning this indispensable benefit scheme by going to Paid Family Leave for Fathers.

To find out more about the Paid Family Leave program, potential claimants can visit eddcaller.com. The website will assist visitors with how to contact the PFL, how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave, provide the Paid Family Leave phone number, and how to speak to a live person for any inquiries concerning PFL benefits. This invaluable resource serves as the fastest way to get answers to any PFL-related queries.