Waiting week definition

The law requires a “waiting week” for some types of leave. There is no waiting week for parental bonding leave, medical leave taken during the “postnatal period” and military exigency.

Your “waiting week” is the first week you are approved to file a weekly claim and used leave. You will not be paid for that week.

Claim weeks always start on Sunday and end the following Saturday. To qualify as a waiting week, you must claim a minimum of eight consecutive hours. If your qualifying event occurs after Sunday in the first week you need to take leave, the waiting week may be less than a week.

During this time, you may use paid time off from your employer, including paid vacation or sick days, without impact on your Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits.

If the first week of your paid family or medical leave happens before you receive your approval letter and can begin filing weekly claims, that first week still counts as your waiting week.