With over 63 million women in the workforce, more and more families are forced to sacrifice their economic well-being to provide the care their family members so desperately need. Family leave benefits strengthen businesses. The evidence is solid that businesses do not suffer when workers are able to take needed leave, according to the bipartisan Commission on Family Leave. The ability to take family leave may also make the economy more efficient by helping companies retain experienced and trained workers. Moreover, there is growing recognition that family leave benefits increase worker productivity and satisfaction.
Family leave benefits work for families and businesses in the rest of the world.
Only three the United States, Ethiopia and Australia provide unpaid leave. Americans strongly support paid family leave. 2 State programs for family leave benefits can be practical and economical. States can leverage off of an existing insurance system, such as UI or TDI, to cost-effectively provide paid family leave. Currently, five states and Puerto Rico offer TDI as a partial wage replacement for circumstances including pregnancy and childbirth but do not cover paternal or adoption leave.