Time Off for Parents of School Age Children
 August 8, 2008

In speaking with law firm HR Directors we were surprised to learn how many firms either provide employees with time off for their children’s school activities or are considering offering such a benefit.  Educators point out that parental involvement is one of the most important means of improving education and, in some cities, employers have been lobbied to provide more flexible opportunities for parents to attend school activities during the school day.  In fact, in 15 States there is some form of requirement for time off for school activities.  The most liberal law is California where employers with more than 25 employees at a location are prohibited from discriminating against or discharging employees who take time off for school activities and must provide up to 40 hours a year of time off to participate in their children’s school activities.  Other states with laws about time off for school activities that would reasonably affect law firms are: the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Vermont.  A summary of those states’ laws on time off for school activities can be downloaded from our website (www.LRGLLC.com).