Topic
Parental & family leave
Maternity, paternity, parental, and adoption leave — the rules vary wildly by country, and even more by employer. The posts below cover statutory minimums, how to extend with PTO, and the conversations that actually happen when you go on or come back from parental leave.
6 articles
Articles in this topic
- Strategy
Surrogacy Leave Rights for Intended Parents: How It Differs From Adoption
FMLA explicitly covers adoption bonding leave. Surrogacy is murkier, both legally and practically. Here is how intended parents' leave rights actually work in 2026 -- federally, by state, in the UK -- and what to do when the law is silent.
2026-05-2415 min - Strategy
The IVF Cycle Timeline: How to Map Leave Around Each Phase
An IVF cycle is not a single appointment -- it is a six-to-eight-week medical project with at least seven distinct phases, each with its own leave profile. Here is how to map FMLA, PWFA, sick leave, and PTO across the calendar.
2026-05-2217 min - Strategy
IVF Leave in the UK and Europe: Where the Right Exists in 2026
European labor law treats fertility leave very differently from the US, and very differently from country to country. Here is where a statutory right actually exists, where it is implied, and where workers still rely on generic sick leave.
2026-05-1814 min - Strategy
How to Request IVF Time Off Without Disclosing: Templates and Framing
You are not required to tell your employer you are doing IVF. Here is the privacy-first request framework grounded in FMLA, PWFA, and 29 CFR 1630.14 confidentiality rules: what you must disclose, what you can withhold, and four templates for managers, HR, and the moments when more information is unavoidable.
2026-05-1516 min - Strategy
Fertility Leave Laws by US State: Where Workers Have Real Protections
Federal law is mostly silent on fertility-specific leave. A handful of states have built real protections, and a different handful have built insurance mandates that change the financial math. Here is the state-by-state landscape, with citations to the underlying statutes.
2026-05-1315 min - Strategy
Is IVF Covered by FMLA? The Gray Area Explained
The short answer is yes -- but only for the person undergoing treatment, only when the treatment rises to a serious health condition under 29 CFR 825.113, and only if you and your employer meet FMLA's eligibility tests. Here's the full picture, with citations to the underlying statutes and regulations.
2026-05-1216 min
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