Skip to main content
The Mom Site

Maternity leave in Louisiana

What you get in Louisiana when you have a baby: job-protected time off, ways to get paid, and the state laws that protect you at work.

Checked October 2026 · 25 sources · Not legal advice

Short answer

Louisiana has no state paid family leave program. A 2026 law lets insurers sell paid family leave policies to employers, so you're covered only if your employer buys one. So most new moms combine unpaid FMLA leave (12 weeks, if you qualify) with short-term disability and paid time off.

Louisiana at a glance

Checked October 2026. Details and sources below.

What you get in Louisiana

Louisiana doesn't run a paid family leave program, and no federal law requires private employers to pay for maternity leave. What you can count on depends on where you work: FMLA's 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave if you qualify, plus whatever your employer pays.

Louisiana requires employers with more than 25 workers to allow pregnancy leave: 6 weeks for a normal pregnancy and childbirth, or the time you are disabled by pregnancy or childbirth, up to 4 months. The law does not require pay, but you may use accrued annual leave. Your employer may require reasonable notice.

State disability programs in California and New York pay for 6 weeks of recovery after a vaginal birth and 8 after a C-section, longer with complications. After recovery, time off to bond with your baby is unpaid unless you use paid time off or your employer offers paid parental leave.

Sources: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives); California Employment Development Department (EDD); New York State Workers’ Compensation Board; U.S. Department of Labor. Data as of October 2026.

A typical leave with FMLA, week by week

Vaginal birth12 weeks

C-section12 weeks

  • Recovery
  • Unpaid, job-protected
Assumes you qualify for FMLA and start leave at the birth. Recovery weeks are paid only through short-term disability or paid time off; the rest of the 12 weeks is unpaid unless your employer pays.

Do you qualify for FMLA?

You qualify if you've worked for the employer at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, at a worksite where the employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles. Public agencies and schools are covered at any size.

50+

employees within 75 miles of your worksite (public employers and schools of any size)

12 mo

with your employer, not necessarily in a row

1,250

hours worked in the past 12 months, about 24 a week

12 wk

of unpaid, job-protected leave, with your health coverage kept

Sources: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives); U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Getting paid during maternity leave in Louisiana

Your pay while you're out comes from these sources, usually in combination.

  • Short-term disability

    If your employer offers short-term disability, or you have your own policy, it can pay part of your wages while you recover from the birth. Employer plans set their own percent of pay and number of weeks, so ask HR for the plan document. How short-term disability works for pregnancy

  • Paid time off and sick leave

    No federal law requires private employers to give paid family, maternity or parental leave. FMLA leave is unpaid, though workers can use paid leave they've earned, and the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn't require pay for time not worked. Check how many PTO and sick days you'll have saved by your due date.

    Sources: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives); U.S. Department of Labor

  • A family leave insurance policy

    Louisiana's Paid Family Leave Insurance Act lets life and disability income insurers sell paid family leave insurance as a stand-alone policy or a rider, covering a birth, adoption or foster placement, care for a seriously ill family member, and military needs. Policies must pay at least 2 weeks in a 52-week period and may have an unpaid waiting period. It took effect June 8, 2026 (La. R.S. 22:1192.1-1192.4; Act 817 of 2026, HB 591). Ask HR whether your employer has one.

    Source: Louisiana State Legislature

  • If you work for the state of Louisiana

    Louisiana's classified state employees get up to 240 hours (6 weeks full time) of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay for a child born, adopted or placed in foster care on or after Jan. 1, 2024, used within 12 weeks of the event. You need 12 months of state service and 1,250 hours worked in the past year (Civil Service Rule 11.36). A 2026 law (Act 744) adds 6 weeks at full pay for public school employees, subject to legislative funding.

    Sources: Louisiana Department of State Civil Service; Louisiana State Legislature

  • If you're a federal employee

    Federal civilian employees covered by title 5 FMLA can get up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for each birth or adoption/foster placement on or after Oct. 1, 2020, used within 12 months after the birth or placement. It requires 12 months of qualifying federal service and is separate from sick and annual leave.

    Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Your rights at work in Louisiana

State laws on leave, pregnancy accommodations and pumping, checked October 2026. Federal law (FMLA, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP Act) applies on top of these.

  • Leave and pregnancy rules

    State law

    Louisiana requires employers with more than 25 workers to allow pregnancy leave: 6 weeks for a normal pregnancy and childbirth, or the time you are disabled by pregnancy or childbirth, up to 4 months. The law does not require pay, but you may use accrued annual leave. Your employer may require reasonable notice.

    Source: Louisiana State Legislature

  • Pregnancy accommodations

    State law

    Since 2021, Louisiana employers with more than 25 employees must make reasonable accommodations for limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions unless it causes undue hardship, and can't make you take leave if another accommodation would work. Employers must also give employees written notice of these rights (La. R.S. 23:341-342; Act 393 of 2021).

    Sources: Louisiana State Legislature; A Better Balance

  • Pumping at work

    Public jobs only

    Louisiana requires every public school board to give school employees a private room other than a restroom and reasonable break time to pump for up to 1 year after birth; break time beyond existing breaks is unpaid (La. R.S. 17:81(W)). Private employers have no lactation-specific state law, though A Better Balance reads the pregnancy accommodation law (employers with more than 25 employees) to cover pumping breaks and space.

    Sources: Louisiana State Legislature; A Better Balance

Guides

Paternity leave in Louisiana

Louisiana has no law that pays fathers or partners for bonding leave. If they qualify, FMLA gives them up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for the newborn, under the same rules as moms. Employer paid parental leave and paid time off are the usual ways to get paid.

State employees: Louisiana's classified state employees get up to 240 hours (6 weeks full time) of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay for a child born, adopted or placed in foster care on or after Jan. 1, 2024, used within 12 weeks of the event. You need 12 months of state service and 1,250 hours worked in the past year (Civil Service Rule 11.36). A 2026 law (Act 744) adds 6 weeks at full pay for public school employees, subject to legislative funding.

Sources: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives); Louisiana Department of State Civil Service; Louisiana State Legislature

12 wk

unpaid, job-protected FMLA leave for an eligible father or partner

$0

paid by Louisiana law to a father or partner

Your maternity leave, step by step

  1. During pregnancy

    Ask HR for the leave policy, the short-term disability plan document, and whether you qualify for FMLA. Tell your employer your expected dates as early as you can, and check how much paid time off you'll have.

  2. From the birth: recovery

    File your short-term disability claim if you have coverage. California's and New York's disability programs count 6 weeks of recovery after a vaginal birth and 8 after a C-section; your provider can certify more for complications.

  3. To week 12: bonding

    FMLA's job protection runs 12 weeks in all. After recovery, this time is unpaid unless you use paid time off or your employer pays parental leave.

  4. Back at work

    If you're pumping: Louisiana requires every public school board to give school employees a private room other than a restroom and reasonable break time to pump for up to 1 year after birth; break time beyond existing breaks is unpaid (La. R.S. 17:81(W)). Private employers have no lactation-specific state law, though A Better Balance reads the pregnancy accommodation law (employers with more than 25 employees) to cover pumping breaks and space.

Questions about maternity leave in Louisiana

How long is maternity leave in Louisiana?

No Louisiana law requires paid maternity leave. If you qualify for FMLA, you get up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. Louisiana requires employers with more than 25 workers to allow pregnancy leave: 6 weeks for a normal pregnancy and childbirth, or the time you are disabled by pregnancy or childbirth, up to 4 months. How much of that time is paid depends on your short-term disability coverage, your saved paid time off and your employer's own leave policy.

Does Louisiana have paid family leave?

No state program. Louisiana's Paid Family Leave Insurance Act lets life and disability income insurers sell paid family leave insurance as a stand-alone policy or a rider, covering a birth, adoption or foster placement, care for a seriously ill family member, and military needs. Policies must pay at least 2 weeks in a 52-week period and may have an unpaid waiting period. It took effect June 8, 2026 (La. R.S. 22:1192.1-1192.4; Act 817 of 2026, HB 591).

Do I qualify for FMLA?

You qualify if you've worked for the employer at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, at a worksite where the employer has 50+ employees within 75 miles. Public agencies and schools are covered at any size.

Does Louisiana require pregnancy accommodations at work?

Since 2021, Louisiana employers with more than 25 employees must make reasonable accommodations for limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions unless it causes undue hardship, and can't make you take leave if another accommodation would work. Employers must also give employees written notice of these rights (La. R.S. 23:341-342; Act 393 of 2021). The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions unless it causes undue hardship. EEOC lists leave for health care appointments and leave to recover from childbirth as examples. It doesn't require the leave to be paid.

Is there paternity leave in Louisiana?

Louisiana has no law that pays fathers or partners for bonding leave. If they qualify, FMLA gives them up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to care for the newborn.

Do Louisiana state employees get paid parental leave?

Louisiana's classified state employees get up to 240 hours (6 weeks full time) of paid parental leave at 100% of base pay for a child born, adopted or placed in foster care on or after Jan. 1, 2024, used within 12 weeks of the event. You need 12 months of state service and 1,250 hours worked in the past year (Civil Service Rule 11.36). A 2026 law (Act 744) adds 6 weeks at full pay for public school employees, subject to legislative funding.

More for new parents in Louisiana

Sources

  1. 1.HB591 (2026 Regular Session): Creates the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act; history Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 2.Act No. 817 (HB 591), 2026 Regular Session Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 3.Résumé Digest, Act 817 (HB 591), 2026 Regular Session Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 4.La. R.S. 23:342, Unlawful practice by employers prohibited; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition; benefits and leaves of absence Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 5.La. R.S. 23:341, Application Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 6.State Pregnant Workers Fairness Laws (updated Dec. 1, 2025) A Better Balance. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 7.La. R.S. 17:81 General powers of local public school boards (Subsection W, expressing breast milk) Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 8.Talking to Your Boss About Your Pump: Louisiana (updated Aug. 2023) A Better Balance. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 25 sources
  1. 9.La. R.S. 49:148.4.1 State-owned buildings; suitable accommodation for breastfeeding and lactation Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 10.Civil Service Rules, Chapter 11, Rule 11.36 Parental Leave Louisiana Department of State Civil Service. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 11.Act No. 744 (SB 157), 2026 Regular Session: paid parental leave for public school employees Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 12.SB157 (2026 Regular Session) bill history Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 13.State Family and Medical Leave Laws (updated November 7, 2025) National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 14.29 CFR 825.100 The Family and Medical Leave Act Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 15.29 CFR 825.104 Covered employer Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 16.29 CFR 825.110 Eligible employee Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 17.29 CFR 825.200 Amount of leave Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 18.29 CFR 825.214 Employee right to reinstatement Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 19.Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 20.What You Should Know About the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 21.The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (42 U.S.C. 2000gg) U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 22.Vacation Leave U.S. Department of Labor. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 23.Fact Sheet: Paid Parental Leave U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  16. 24.Disability Insurance – Pregnancy FAQs California Employment Development Department (EDD). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  17. 25.Introduction to the Disability Benefits Law (employee disability benefits) New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Accessed October 9, 2026.

Maternity leave in other states

No state program

Compare every state