Parental leave in the U.S. is complicated by design. It's a patchwork of state programs, federal protections, employer policies, and insurance benefits, and no one ever explains it in one place. Most parents find out what they were entitled to after they've already gone back to work.
We built the Parental Leave Playbook so that doesn't happen to you. Today, it's officially here.
Why we built it
When our founder, Linzay Davis, returned from her second maternity leave in 2021, she realized she hadn't maximized a single dollar or day she was entitled to — and she had an HR background. If someone who worked in HR could miss things, what about every parent navigating this with no background at all?
That question became Hello Bundle. The Playbook is the next step: the clear, honest guide we wish every parent had walking into this. No legal-encyclopedia jargon. No generic HR-speak. Just the levers you actually have, and how to pull them.
What's inside
The Playbook is built around the four pieces of parental leave that almost no one explains — and how to stack them so they add up to more time and more pay:
- Paid leave — state programs, employer policies, and short-term disability, plus how to combine them.
- Job protection — what FMLA actually covers and how to use it as the backbone of your plan.
- Legal protections + accommodations — the PWFA, ADA, PUMP Act, and pregnancy discrimination rights most HR departments don't fully understand yet.
- Advocacy + planning — the scripts, templates, and strategy to ask for what you've earned with confidence.
Inside, you'll find:
- State-by-state guides for every paid-leave state plus Washington, D.C. — eligibility, pay, timelines, and a sample leave calendar.
- A complete playbook for parents in states with no paid leave — because you still have more options than you think.
- Plain-English breakdowns of your federal rights — FMLA, PWFA, ADA, the PUMP Act, and pregnancy discrimination protections.
- HR scripts and email templates you can copy, adapt, and send today.
- Checklists for leave planning, postpartum paperwork, and returning to work.
- Strategies for the situations that trip people up — self-employment, partner leave, NICU stays, and traveling with breast milk.
Playbook or Bundle? Here's the difference
The Playbook gives you the roadmap. The Bundle gives you an expert who walks it with you. Here's how they compare so you can find the right fit.
Who it's for
The Playbook meets you wherever you are:
- You're pregnant or expecting and want a clear roadmap before you talk to HR.
- Your state doesn't offer paid leave and you've been told you're out of luck (you're not).
- You're self-employed or freelancing and assumed none of this applies to you.
- You and a partner want to coordinate leave to stretch your time at home.
- You're planning around a NICU stay, a pregnancy complication, or an accommodation need.
What our parents actually get
For parents who go all in with a Bundle, the numbers speak for themselves:
- 26 weeks — the average amount of parental leave Hello Bundle parents take.
- $53,204 — the average paid leave Hello Bundle parents secure.
- Thousands of parents helped — and counting.
Those results come from knowing how to layer every available benefit — not just the obvious ones.
"Hello Bundle demystified an incredibly daunting, antiquated, and confusing process and helped me get money I was entitled to, giving me more time to enjoy with my precious babies!"
— Megan L., San Francisco, CA
"Hello Bundle is an invaluable resource of information, compassion, and understanding. I would HIGHLY recommend Hello Bundle to support you in this time, especially when all you want to do is focus on your new baby."
— Molly R., Oakland, CA
When Evan H. was laid off two months before finding out she was pregnant, she had no idea if she'd qualify for anything. With Hello Bundle's help, she took 4.5 months of paid maternity leave. Read Evan's story here.
Get the Parental Leave Playbook
Instant download. Everything you need to understand your state's program, your federal rights, and your options — all in one place.
Get the Parental Leave Playbook Here
Ready for an expert in your corner?
Reading about your rights is one thing. Knowing whether your specific employer's policy runs concurrently or consecutively — and which order to file your claims to maximize your pay — is another. If your situation is at all complicated (a new job, a small employer, self-employment, a complication, a layoff, twins), personalized support pays for itself many times over.
Have questions first? Join our next free live Q&A call with our founder Linzay. Or if you're ready to plan out your leave, book a consulting call by selecting your state here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Parental Leave Playbook?
It's Hello Bundle's self-paced digital guide to maximizing your parental leave. It covers state paid leave programs, your federal rights, HR scripts, checklists, and templates — everything you need to build a leave plan without piecing it together alone.
How do I get the Playbook?
The Playbook is a digital download you'll receive instantly after purchase, so you can start planning right away.
Does it cover my state?
The Playbook includes state-by-state guides for every state with an active paid family leave program, plus Washington, D.C. If your state doesn't offer paid leave, there's a dedicated section walking through every other option available to you.
What if my state doesn't offer paid leave?
You still have options. The Playbook covers employer leave, short-term disability, PTO and sick-time stacking, FMLA, accommodation laws, and partner-leave strategies — meaningful levers available to almost every working parent, regardless of where you live.
Can I upgrade to personalized help later?
Yes. The Bundle matches you with a consultant who specializes in your state and builds a personalized leave plan around your job, benefits, timeline, and goals. You can upgrade anytime.
