Being Present Is the Gift: How Paid Family Leave Supports Fatherhood

 

Fatherhood is one of life’s greatest callings. As a proud father of three, I’ve been blessed to cut umbilical cords, watch my children take their first breaths and witness their earliest moments with their mother. Those memories are sacred, and they shaped how I see my role as both father and pastor.

 

Still, I have one regret: I didn’t take time off when my children were born. I supported my wife while she did, but being old school, I didn’t fully understand the value of my presence in those early days. I didn’t know California offered support that could have made it possible for working fathers like me to be there when it counts.

 

Being a father means being an example, a protector, a provider—and most of all, a source of unconditional love. It also means being present. That’s something I preach not only at home but in the community. In my ministry, I’ve seen many fathers feel overwhelmed by responsibility. But I’ve also seen the joy that comes when fathers fully embrace their role—when they witness the fruit of their love and labor in their children’s lives.

 

That’s why I’m sharing my story this Father’s Day—to help other dads be there for those irreplaceable first moments without the weight of financial stress.

 

Through the Employment Development Department (EDD), California offers Paid Family Leave (PFL), a vital resource that allows working fathers to take time off to bond with a new child while still receiving income. Since 2004, the program has paid out more than $17 billion to help workers cover lost wages during key family moments. Nearly 43 percent of new bonding claims today are from men—proof that more fathers are stepping up.

 

In 2025, benefits will be even stronger. Workers applying for new claims may receive up to 90 percent of their regular wages. If you see “CASDI” on your paycheck, you’re likely already paying into the system and may qualify.

 

Support matters. Fathers deserve tools that let them be present, without sacrificing their ability to provide. That’s what California’s Paid Family Leave program offers—the chance to be both present and provider for the times you can’t get back.

This Father’s Day, take the time to learn about your rights and benefits. Visit Paid Family Leave for Fathers on the EDD website and discover what is available.  

 

California believes in the power of presence. The State’s PFL program makes it possible. For our children, our families and our future—let’s continue to show up.