06/15/2026
If you or a family member were the victim of a crime, California just strengthened your right to take time off work.
AB 406 expanded the state’s leave protections for victims of what the law calls a “qualifying act of violence.” If you work for an employer with 25 or more employees, you can take protected leave to get medical care, seek counseling, obtain a restraining order, go to court, relocate to safety, or care for a family member who’s a victim.
You can also use paid sick leave for jury duty, witness duty, and other crime-victim absences. Family-member leave can be capped at 12 weeks total and may run concurrently with FMLA and California Family Rights Act leave.
Most important: your employer cannot discriminate or retaliate against you for taking this leave. If they do, that’s a separate claim.
Share this with someone who needs it. The attorneys at Miracle Mile Law Group are ready to help California employees understand and protect their rights.