Employment & Worker Protection · District of Columbia
DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA
DC Code 32-531 - enacted in District of Columbia.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2017
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 34/100
- District of Columbia strictness
The bottom line
DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA is an enacted law in District of Columbia, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2020-07-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 34/100
- District of Columbia strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official District of Columbia legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA
DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA (DC Code 32-531) is an enacted law in District of Columbia under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2017-02-23 and becomes effective on 2020-07-01. District of Columbia currently reports 3 tracked regulations with 3 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 34/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places District of Columbia within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in DC Code 32-531 itself.
Applicability under DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA: All DC employers for PFL. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee. Penalty exposure is documented as: DOES enforcement. Retaliation: back pay + treble damages. Notable exemptions: Federal employees. Self-employed opt-in available..
Summary
DC universal paid family leave: 12 weeks bonding, 12 weeks medical, 12 weeks family care. Employer-funded. Sick leave separate.
Key Requirements
PFL: 12 weeks bonding (1 week qualifying), 12 weeks medical, 12 weeks family care. 90% wages up to $1,000/week. Sick: 2-8 days by employer size.
Penalties
DOES enforcement. Retaliation: back pay + treble damages.
Applicability
All DC employers for PFL. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee.
Exemptions
Federal employees. Self-employed opt-in available.
Official Source
https://does.dc.gov/service/paid-family-leaveHow District of Columbia compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - District of Columbia ranks #20 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. District of Columbia is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA enacted?
DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA was enacted on 2017-02-23 and became effective on 2020-07-01. It was introduced as DC Code 32-531.
What are the penalties for violating DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA?
DOES enforcement. Retaliation: back pay + treble damages. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA apply to small businesses?
All DC employers for PFL. Sick: all employers with 1+ employee. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does District of Columbia compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
District of Columbia has a regulatory strictness score of 34/100, based on 3 enacted regulations out of 3 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA?
The official text of DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA (DC Code 32-531) is available from the District of Columbia legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More District of Columbia Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- DC Paid Family Leave + ESSTA is enacted in District of Columbia, effective 2020-07-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; District of Columbia ranks #20 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation District of Columbia tracks across all five policy areas. District of Columbia profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official District of Columbia source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.