• videocam Live Webinar with Live Q&A
  • calendar_month September 2, 2026 @ 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Employment and Workers Comp
  • schedule 90 minutes

Where State Paid Family and Medical Leave Laws Intersect With the FMLA and Other Leaves: Employer Challenges, Compliance Strategies

$297.00

This course is $0 with these passes:

CLE
ALL
  1. keyboard_arrow_leftBack

About the Course

Introduction

This CLE webinar will examine the compliance challenges facing employers where state paid family and medical leave (PFML) laws intersect with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), state leave laws, and employer-provided leave, and offer best practices for guiding employers through this evolving regulatory landscape. The panel will discuss areas where FMLA and PFML laws may differ—e.g., employee eligibility, qualifying reasons, and job protection—and how these may impact employer obligations. The panel will also address ways that the PFML intersects with the FMLA, state leave laws (such as paid sick leave laws and state FMLA), as well as an employer's own policies. The panel will also provide tips for crafting policies and procedures and compliance strategies for employers.

Description

An increasing number of states have enacted or are soon to enact some form of either mandatory or voluntary paid family and medical leave laws. Employers who are subject to any of these laws, as well as the FMLA, face compliance challenges, as there are key differences between the federal and state laws, including eligibility thresholds, qualifying reasons for taking leave, and whether an employee's job is protected. Compliance becomes even more complicated when state leave laws and an employer's own leave policies are considered. 

Additionally, employers must be aware of how their compliance obligations may be impacted such as whether the types of leave may run concurrently; when leave may be designated as FMLA leave; and whether and when they can require employees to "substitute" or use accrued employer-provided paid leave benefits as was addressed by the DOL-WHD in a 2025 opinion letter.

Listen as our authoritative panel examines the compliance challenges facing employers where PFML laws intersect with other laws and policies, and offers best practices for guiding employers through this evolving regulatory landscape.

Presented By

Ashley E. Obando
Of Counsel
Jackson Lewis P.C.

Ms. Obando partners with clients to provide strategic advice on workplace law, helping them navigate challenges with solutions that align with their business goals. She brings more than a decade of experience in employment law and organizational leadership from her service in the federal government. Before joining the firm, Ms. Obando held senior positions with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG), including Chief of Staff and Acting Assistant Inspector General for Management, Communications, and Innovation. In these roles, she provided strategic counsel on human capital, DEIA, and organizational development initiatives, while also overseeing critical functions, including contracting and financial resources. Ms. Obando is experienced in guiding executives and HR leaders through high-stakes employment decisions, designing proactive strategies to minimize legal risk, and managing change in complex environments. She represents employers in employment matters, including defending against claims of employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Ms. Obando also helps companies protect their business interests by enforcing non-compete agreements and addressing allegations involving trade secrets and confidential information. In addition to litigation, she conducts internal investigations in response to employee complaints about workplace conditions, helping organizations of all sizes navigate sensitive issues with discretion and legal rigor. 

expand_circle_down Expand to View Full Bio expand_circle_up Collapse Bio
Teresa Burke Wright
Principal
Jackson Lewis P.C.
Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Wednesday, September 2, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

I. Introduction

II. FMLA

A. FMLA basics

B. Employer coverage

C. Employee eligibility

D. Reasons for FMLA leave

E. Amount of leave

F. Notice requirements for employers and employees

G. Substitution of paid leave

H. Job restoration

I. Retaliation and interference

J. State FMLA laws

III. PFML laws

A. The rise of state PFML laws

B. Basics and overview

C. What employers are covered?

D. Eligibility for leave

E. PFML funds and contributions

F. Reasons for leave

G.  Is the leave job-protected?

H. Amount of leave and waiting periods

I. Weekly maximum benefits

J. Increments of leave and intermittent leave

K. Other details: notice, medical certification

IV. Interplay with other laws/leaves

A. Federal laws

1. FMLA and state equivalents

2. ADA and state equivalents

B. State leaves

1. Paid sick leave laws

2. Workers' compensation

C. Short-term disability insurance

D. Employer-provided leave

1. PTO, vacation, and sick

2. Parental leave

3. Employer-funded STD/wage replacement

V. Conclusion

A. Best practices for employer compliance

B. Policy and procedure development

C. Key takeaways

The panel will review these and other important issues:

  • Why has there been an increase in state PFML laws?
  • In what ways do these differ from FMLA? Creating what compliance challenges for employers when employees are eligible for FMLA and state PFML?
  • How do the PFML laws intersect with other state leave laws and an employer’s own policies?
  • What policies should an employer have to implement PFML and other laws?
  • What are best practices for employer compliance?