Men Outpace Women in Bonding Leave Claims in California and Other States
In 2025, fathers filed 51% of bonding leave claims in California, a sharp rise from 18% when the program began in 2004.
By Sarah Reynolds ·
Fathers are filing more paid bonding leave claims than mothers in several U.S. states, according to new data. In California, men accounted for 51% of these claims in 2025. Colorado and Washington state saw men surpass women in claim filings for the first time in their respective histories last year.
The shift represents a major change from the program's early years. When California launched its paid family leave program in 2004, men made up only 18% of bonding claim applications. The state’s program provides up to eight weeks of paid bonding leave within a year of a birth or adoption. This is separate from the six to eight weeks of disability leave available to mothers for recovery after birth.
Karlo Campana, a father of three in Southern California, took paid time off in May after the birth of his son. He also took leave for his two daughters. Campana works at an ad agency and said the time off allowed him to bond with his children during their infant stage without worrying about lost income. He noted that having his partner share the load helped both of them during the sleep-deprived period.
Policy changes have made the leave more accessible. In 2025, California increased the benefit to cover up to 90% of a worker's regular salary. Previously, the percentage was lower. Molly Weston Williamson, policy director at Paid Leave for All, said the higher benefit amount makes leave a realistic option for more families. She also cited greater public awareness of the program as a factor in the increased usage by men.
The increase in claims occurs amid national debates about the cost of raising children. In 2025, a Brigham Young University survey found that 70% of Americans said raising children had become unaffordable. This marked the largest single-year jump in the survey's history. President Donald Trump has promoted initiatives to encourage family formation, including expanding access to in vitro fertilization and creating investment accounts for newborns.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 84% of full-time working parents who are not self-employed said paid parental, family, or medical leave would be extremely or very helpful. Only half of those parents reported having access to such leave at their jobs. The data on state claims reflects only those who used the public programs, not private employer benefits.
Campana said he initially felt guilty about taking time off due to traditional expectations of fathers as primary providers. He cited his own father, who worked three jobs and was rarely present, as the reason he wanted to be more available for his children. He now views presence as a key part of parenting.
