Colorado FAMLI Leave Laws 2026
Last updated: · Source: Colorado labor department
Colorado · Leave Laws 2026
Federal FMLA
Applies (50+ employees)
State Leave Law
Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance
State Employer Threshold
1+
Paid Family Leave
Colorado FAMLI — up to $1,448/wk
Bereavement Leave
No mandatory law
FMLA in Colorado: Federal Leave Protections
Federal FMLA applies to every qualifying employee in Colorado the same way it applies nationwide: up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees who've worked 12+ months and at least 1,250 hours for an employer with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
Colorado FAMLI: Paid Family and Medical Leave
Colorado's Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) extends job-protected leave to more workers than federal FMLA alone: it applies to employers with as few as 1 employees, versus the federal threshold of 50. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of leave. Job protection applies to employers of any size. Colorado's 10-employee figure only determines who pays the employer share of FAMLI premiums — it does not gate eligibility for leave or job protection.
Eligibility test: 180 calendar days employed, with no hours-worked requirement and no employer-size minimum for job protection. The 6-month figure used by this planner approximates 180 days. This is different from federal FMLA's 12-month + 1,250-hour test — don't assume the federal rule applies here.
CO FAMLI Benefits: How Much You Get Paid
Colorado FAMLI pays eligible workers approximately 90% of their wages, up to $1,448/week, for up to 12 weeks . The program has been in effect since 2024-01-01.
90% of wages for earners at or below half the state average weekly wage; a lower blended rate above that, up to the weekly cap, which is recalculated roughly twice a year.
| Weeks available | 12 |
| Wage replacement | 90% (tiered) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,448 |
| Covers bonding with a new child | Yes |
| Covers caring for a family member | Yes |
| Covers military family leave | Yes |
Apply through the official FAMLI site ↗ Estimate your weekly benefit →
Colorado Bereavement Leave: What CO Law Requires
Colorado has no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Most employers offer 3–5 days as a matter of policy, not legal obligation — check your employee handbook for your specific employer's bereavement policy.
How CO FAMLI and FMLA Work Together
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance, the two run concurrently — counting against both entitlements at the same time — and the employee gets whichever protection is more generous on each specific point (employer size, weeks, covered relationships).
Frequently Asked Questions
CO FAMLI pays up to 90% of your wages, with a maximum weekly benefit of $1,448, for up to 12 weeks (16 weeks for pregnancy-related complications plus bonding). Lower-income workers receive a higher percentage of wages.