Paid Leave
Leave Request Letter Generator
Fill in your dates and reason, and copy a ready-to-send request for time off. It cites federal FMLA and your state’s paid leave program, and asks your employer to confirm in writing.
A drafting aid, not legal advice. It states only what the cited rules say.
[date] Dear [manager's name], I am writing to request leave to bond with my new child, beginning [date] and ending [date]. I expect to return to work on [date]. I believe I am eligible for leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; 29 CFR Part 825): I have worked here for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the past year. Please treat this letter as my request for FMLA leave. The Act provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave and requires that my group health coverage continue on the same terms while I am out (29 CFR 825.209). I also plan to apply for California Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits through California EDD (Cal. Unemp. Ins. Code §§ 2655, 3301). Please let me know if you need to complete any employer section of that claim. The FMLA asks for 30 days' notice when leave is foreseeable (29 CFR 825.302); I am giving this notice as early as I can. If you need medical certification or other documents, please tell me what is required and by when. Could you please confirm in writing that my leave is approved, and let me know who I should contact while I am out? Thank you, [your name]
A drafting aid, not legal advice. It cites only what the law says; your employer’s policy or a union contract may give you more. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
What the letter says, and why
- The request and dates. Giving a start date, an end date and a reason is what lets your employer decide whether the leave qualifies (29 CFR 825.302(c)).
- FMLA, if you tick the box. Up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave (29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; 29 CFR Part 825), with group health coverage kept on the same terms (29 CFR 825.209).
- Your state program. The program name, the agency and the statute, drawn from the same data as the paid leave planner. States with no program, and Maryland until its benefits start, get no state paragraph.
- Notice and paperwork. FMLA’s 30-day notice rule for foreseeable leave (29 CFR 825.302), and a request to be told what certification is needed.
What it deliberately leaves out
It makes no claim about state job protection, which depends on the program and your employer’s size, and no demand for pay beyond what the law provides. If your situation involves a dispute, a union contract or a disability accommodation, talk to your state labor department or an employment lawyer.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much notice do I have to give for FMLA leave?
When the need for leave is foreseeable, such as a due date or a scheduled surgery, FMLA asks for at least 30 days' notice (29 CFR 825.302). When it isn't foreseeable, give notice as soon as practicable (29 CFR 825.303). State programs set their own claim deadlines on top of that.
Does my leave request have to mention FMLA by name?
No. Under 29 CFR 825.302(c) you only need to give enough information for your employer to know the leave may qualify; it is then the employer's job to designate it. Naming the Act, as this letter does, removes any doubt.
Is a letter to my employer the same as applying for state paid leave?
No. The letter asks your employer for time off. State benefits are a separate claim you file with the state agency (for example California EDD or the New York PFL insurer). The letter names the program you will claim from and asks your employer about any forms it must complete.
What if I don't qualify for FMLA?
Untick the FMLA box and the letter drops those paragraphs. You may still be entitled to state paid leave or state job protection, which often reach smaller employers and newer employees than FMLA's 50-employee, 12-month and 1,250-hour rules. The paid leave planner lists each state's eligibility rule.
Related tools
See how many weeks of leave your state gives, how many are paid, and what each week pays — for a new baby, your own health, or caring for family. Formula and law shown.
/paid-leave-calculatorOpen →State Disability & Paid Leave Deduction CalculatorSee exactly how much your state's SDI or PFML payroll deduction takes from your paycheck — covers CA, NJ, NY, RI, HI, WA, MA, CT, and OR.
/state-disability-calculatorOpen →