California fathers increasingly use paid bonding leave, matching mothers in many cases

California’s state-run paid family-leave scheme is witnessing a notable rise in fathers taking bonding leave after the birth of a child. In 2025, men accounted for 51% of all bonding claims, up from roughly 18% when the program began in 2004. The policy provides up to eight weeks of paid leave, on top of separate disability benefits for mothers, and recent changes raised the wage replacement rate to as much as 90% of regular earnings.

Advocates attribute the trend to evolving gender expectations and the financial attractiveness of the benefit. Research links paternal leave to better health for both parents, lower postpartum-depression rates, and reduced infant mortality. While the California Employment Development Department cannot pinpoint exact causes, the shift reflects broader concerns about child-rearing costs across the United States.