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Maternity leave in West Virginia

What you get in West Virginia 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

West Virginia has no state paid leave program, so most new moms combine unpaid FMLA leave (12 weeks, if you qualify) with short-term disability and paid time off. West Virginia's Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act requires the state, local governments and employers with 12 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions once the worker provides a health care provider's written note, unless it would cause undue hardship (W.

West Virginia at a glance

Checked October 2026. Details and sources below.

What you get in West Virginia

West Virginia 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.

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 West Virginia

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

    No voluntary paid family leave insurance law found as of October 2026.

    Source: West Virginia Legislature

  • If you work for the state of West Virginia

    No state-employee paid parental leave law found as of October 2026. State and county school board employees can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a birth or adoption after using up their annual and personal leave (W. Va. Code § 21-5D-4).

    Sources: West Virginia Legislature; West Virginia Division of Personnel

  • 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 West Virginia

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

    FMLA only

    No West Virginia law adds job-protected leave beyond federal FMLA for private-sector workers.

    Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures; National Partnership for Women & Families

  • Pregnancy accommodations

    State law

    West Virginia's Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act requires the state, local governments and employers with 12 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions once the worker provides a health care provider's written note, unless it would cause undue hardship (W. Va. Code § 16B-19-2; passed 2014, renumbered 2024).

    Sources: West Virginia Legislature; A Better Balance

  • Pumping at work

    Federal only

    No state lactation-at-work law found as of October 2026. Federal PUMP Act rules apply.

    Source: West Virginia Legislature

Guides

Paternity leave in West Virginia

West Virginia 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.

Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives)

12 wk

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

$0

paid by West Virginia 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: No state lactation-at-work law found as of October 2026. Federal PUMP Act rules apply.

Questions about maternity leave in West Virginia

How long is maternity leave in West Virginia?

No West Virginia law requires paid maternity leave. If you qualify for FMLA, you get up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave. 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 West Virginia have paid family leave?

No. West Virginia has no paid family leave program and no law on family leave insurance, so pay during leave comes from your employer.

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 West Virginia require pregnancy accommodations at work?

West Virginia's Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act requires the state, local governments and employers with 12 or more employees to make reasonable accommodations for limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions once the worker provides a health care provider's written note, unless it would cause undue hardship (W. Va. Code § 16B-19-2; passed 2014, renumbered 2024). 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 West Virginia?

West Virginia 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 West Virginia state employees get paid parental leave?

No state-employee paid parental leave law found as of October 2026. State and county school board employees can take 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a birth or adoption after using up their annual and personal leave (W. Va. Code § 21-5D-4).

More for new parents in West Virginia

Sources

  1. 1.State Family and Medical Leave Laws (updated November 7, 2025) National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 2.State paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits (Feb. 6, 2026) Mercer Law & Policy Group. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 3.State Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Laws (chart, April 2026) National Partnership for Women & Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 4.The United States Leave Law Report, Vol. 12 (July 28, 2026) Tilt. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 5.All bills, 2026 Regular Session West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 6.29 CFR 825.110 Eligible employee Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 7.W. Va. Code § 16B-19-2: Reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 8.W. Va. Code § 16B-17-3: Definitions (employer) West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 25 sources
  1. 9.W. Va. Code § 5-11B-2 (repealed and recodified 2024; bill history) West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 10.State Pregnant Workers Fairness Laws (updated Dec. 1, 2025) A Better Balance. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 11.W. Va. Code § 16-1-19: Child's right to nurse West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 12.2025 Regular Session: all bills West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 13.W. Va. Code § 21-5D-4: Family leave (Parental Leave Act) West Virginia Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 14.Leave Information (FMLA/Parental Leave Act) West Virginia Division of Personnel. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 15.29 CFR 825.100 The Family and Medical Leave Act Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 16.29 CFR 825.104 Covered employer 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