California expands bereavement leave for chosen family

What changes in 2027

California’s bereavement-leave law will expand in 2027 to cover chosen family. Eligible workers will be able to take up to five days of leave following the death of a designated person who is related to them by blood or whose relationship is considered equivalent to a family relationship.

The change recognizes that a worker’s closest family connection may extend beyond a traditional or legally defined family category. It places qualifying relationships based on an equivalent family bond within the state’s bereavement-leave policy.

The expansion concerns time away from work after a death. It does not create an election-related requirement or involve a candidate race. Its practical effect will depend on whether a worker is eligible under the law and whether the deceased person fits the expanded definition.

What workers and employers need to know

The maximum leave covered by the expansion is five days. The change begins in 2027, so workers seeking leave before then will not yet be covered by this added category.

Workers will need to understand how a designated person is identified and how an equivalent-to-family relationship is treated when requesting leave. Employers will need to incorporate the expanded category into their bereavement-leave policies and workplace procedures when it takes effect.

Implementation details will shape how workers request the leave and how employers evaluate eligibility. State guidance may clarify the designation process and the records, if any, involved in handling a request under the expanded law.