PFML status
Voluntary insurance only
Voluntary paid family leave insurance (optional)
2026Voluntary insurance onlyTennessee Paid Leave
Voluntary insurance only· No statewide sick-leave mandate.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Tennessee paid leave snapshot
No mandatory PFML insurance; voluntary insurance products may be available. Weekly-max rank #44 (#1 = highest among all jurisdictions); family-weeks rank #44.
Max weekly
—
No cap modeled
Family weeks
—
Benefit year
Employee premium
None
Voluntary / not applicable
Paid sick leave
No statewide sick-leave
No statewide private-employer paid sick leave mandate (cities/counties o…
Compare Tennessee with another state
Compare any two states
PFML weekly max, weeks, premiums, and paid sick leave mandates.
Tennessee PFML program details
- Program
- Voluntary paid family leave insurance (optional)
- Wage replacement
- —
- Medical weeks
- See disability / separate track
- Combined weeks max
- —
- Premium payer
- Voluntary / not applicable
- Benefits timing
- Only if the employer (or employee, where allowed) purchases a voluntary product.
- Wage base / premium note
- Premiums and benefits are set by private insurers or opt-in partners — not a mandatory payroll tax.
Federal FMLA may provide unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees of covered employers. Employer PTO policies still matter.
Example employee PFML premium
On $80,000 annual wages, a 0% employee rate models about $0 per year before wage-base caps and employer-size exemptions. Premiums and benefits are set by private insurers or opt-in partners — not a mandatory payroll tax.
Key takeaways — Tennessee paid leave
- Tennessee PFML status: Voluntary insurance only (Voluntary paid family leave insurance (optional)).
- No mandatory statewide PFML weekly maximum in this 2026 comparison.
- No mandatory employee PFML premium modeled.
- No statewide sick-leave mandate. No statewide private-employer paid sick leave mandate (cities/counties or employers may still provide leave).
- Ranks #44 on weekly max and #44 on family weeks among 51 jurisdictions (#1 = highest).
- Only if the employer (or employee, where allowed) purchases a voluntary product.
Tennessee vs neighboring states
PFML status, weekly maxima, family weeks, and sick-leave mandates for states that share a border with Tennessee.
| State | PFML | Max weekly | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Voluntary insurance only | — | This page |
 Alabama | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs TN |
 Arkansas | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs TN |
 Georgia | No statewide PFML | — | vs TN |
 Kentucky | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs TN |
 Mississippi | No statewide PFML | — | vs TN |
 Missouri | No statewide PFML | — | vs TN |
 North Carolina | No statewide PFML | — | vs TN |
 Virginia | Voluntary insurance only | — | vs TN |
How to read this page
Tennessee paid leave overview (2026)
No mandatory PFML insurance; voluntary insurance products may be available.
Tennessee authorizes voluntary paid family leave insurance rather than a mandatory payroll program. Coverage exists only if purchased. Federal FMLA may provide unpaid, job-protected leave for eligible employees of covered employers. Employer PTO policies still matter.
Paid sick leave is tracked separately: No statewide private-employer paid sick leave mandate (cities/counties or employers may still provide leave).
Premiums and benefits in Tennessee
Premiums and benefits are set by private insurers or opt-in partners — not a mandatory payroll tax.
Without a mandatory weekly maximum, estimate leave pay from your employer handbook or a voluntary policy.
Job protection is not guaranteed by a cash benefit alone. Confirm whether FMLA, a state family-leave statute, or PFML restoration rules apply to your employer size and tenure.
Planning leave while working in Tennessee
Map the reason for leave (bonding, family care, own serious health condition, safe leave) to the right program—PFML, disability, sick leave, or unpaid FMLA.
Ask payroll whether PFML premiums already appear on your pay stub and whether the employer uses a private plan.
If you live near a border, compare Tennessee with Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia—PFML and sick-leave rules can change by work location.
Who this Tennessee paid leave page helps
Useful if…
- •Employees in Tennessee estimating bonding or caregiving wage replacement.
- •Managers budgeting backfill while someone is on PFML or sick leave.
- •Candidates weighing a Tennessee offer against a neighboring state’s leave laws.
- •Workers checking whether a sick-leave mandate applies even without PFML.
Use official tools if…
- •You need an approved claim, private-plan exemption, or exact waiting period.
- •Your hours or employer size fall below statutory thresholds.
- •A city ordinance (not just statewide rules) governs your worksite.
- •You are self-employed and need opt-in PFML rules rather than employee coverage.
Tennessee paid leave checklist
Quick steps before treating rankings as a claim or relocation decision.
- 1Confirm Tennessee PFML status (Voluntary insurance only) and benefit start timing.
- 2Ask HR what wage replacement (if any) applies during parental or medical leave.
- 3Review sick/any-reason leave accrual: No statewide sick-leave mandate.
- 4Check pay stubs for PFML/SDI-style deductions and annual wage-base caps.
- 5Document FMLA eligibility separately if you need job protection.
- 6Compare Tennessee with a peer state before relocating for leave benefits alone.
Related states for paid leave
AlabamaVoluntary insurance only
Compare Tennessee vs Alabama →ArkansasVoluntary insurance only
Compare Tennessee vs Arkansas →
FloridaVoluntary insurance only
Compare Tennessee vs Florida →KentuckyVoluntary insurance only
Compare Tennessee vs Kentucky →Tennessee paid leave FAQs
Voluntary insurance only. Program: Voluntary paid family leave insurance (optional). Only if the employer (or employee, where allowed) purchases a voluntary product.
Tennessee has no mandatory statewide PFML weekly maximum in this comparison.
No mandatory PFML week allotment — check employer policy and unpaid FMLA eligibility.
No mandatory employee PFML premium in this model. Premiums and benefits are set by private insurers or opt-in partners — not a mandatory payroll tax.
No statewide sick-leave mandate. No statewide private-employer paid sick leave mandate (cities/counties or employers may still provide leave).
No. FMLA is unpaid. Tennessee does not currently provide a mandatory statewide PFML paycheck replacement in this mid-2026 snapshot.
Weekly-max rank #44 and family-weeks rank #44 in this 51-jurisdiction table (#1 = highest weeks/benefit). Employee-premium rank #44 (#1 = lower employee rate among programs).
Use the state labor/PFML agency for claims, premiums, and notices. This page is an educational comparison using 2026 chart values updated 2026-07-31.
Tennessee has no mandatory PFML weekly maximum in this guide, so there is no statewide insurance total to multiply.
Usually only for short absences tied to illness, appointments, or safe leave—not full bonding leave. No statewide private-employer paid sick leave mandate (cities/counties or employers may still provide leave). Use PFML (where active) or unpaid FMLA for multi-week bonding.
Nearby combined snapshots: Alabama (Voluntary insurance only); Arkansas (Voluntary insurance only); Georgia (No statewide PFML); Kentucky (Voluntary insurance only); Mississippi (No statewide PFML); Missouri (No statewide PFML); North Carolina (No statewide PFML); Virginia (Voluntary insurance only). Open a compare page for side-by-side premiums and weeks.
Often yes under FMLA or state restoration rules if you remain eligible, but you may still owe your share of premiums. PFML cash benefits do not automatically equal benefit continuation—confirm with HR.
Not legal advice. Agency rules control claims, premiums, and job protection.