For Immediate Release: November 30, 2016
At some point, everyone will need time away from work to care for themselves or a loved one, but the United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee some form of access to paid maternity, parental, family or sick leave to its workforce. This has a disproportionate direct impact on women, in particular, but harms all workers and their families’ economic security and health, business’ productivity, and the economy. It is past time for change – and there is a loud and growing demand. Three state paid family and medical leave programs show that paid leave works – and in a fourth state, the nation’s strongest paid family leave law will go into effect in 2018. But every one of America’s workers deserve access to paid family and medical leave, no matter where they live, who their boss is or what job they hold. The Administration has the opportunity to make real, transformative change that would help an estimated quarter-million workers and families every year when children are born or adopted and when serious personal or family illnesses or injuries occur.
Solutions:
– Implement a national paid family and medical leave program
– Prioritize the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (FAMILY Act)
– Remove barriers to the federal government providing paid family and medical leave to its own employees