Stories about paid leave going wrong are having a moment. Workers allegedly taking vacations while on leave. Warnings about fraud. Claims that programs are being “gamed” or crushing employers. It’s a compelling narrative. It’s also a familiar one. And honestly? It doesn’t hold up.
We all need time to care, but the rising costs of essentials mean that taking time away from work is out of reach for too many workers. For millions of Americans, paid family leave means being able to afford the basics – including time to care.
Mothers are near and dear to our hearts, but are their needs treated with the same care in the workforce? The United States still does not have a national guarantee of paid family and medical leave, suggesting a gap between what we value and what we support.
Every day, working people across the country wake up already making tradeoffs. They plan their commutes around childcare drop-offs, take calls from doctors’ offices during lunch breaks, and quietly calculate how many sick days they have left if something goes wrong. For millions of caregivers, work and care are not separate parts of life – they are deeply intertwined, often in ways that leave little margin for error.
Behind every meal served in America’s restaurants is a workforce of women, immigrants, and small business owners whose livelihoods are directly shaped by public policy. This issue was put front and center when chefs and lawmakers came together for the annual MAPP Advocacy Summit on Capitol Hill.
There are smaller, more incremental approaches that Congress should consider that can support individuals who currently lack paid leave, help small businesses afford to provide paid leave, and support state paid leave programs. Incremental approaches to paid leave should also lay the groundwork for and be able to complement an eventual universal, federal paid leave program.
Family and medical leave is critical for military spouses, but frequent moves and underemployment make it harder for them to qualify for job-protected leave under the law. A new bipartisan bill would help.
Caring for our loved ones and neighbors is critical, important work that our families and communities depend on – and the economic impact of this work is enormous. Americans’ unpaid care is valued at more than $1.1 trillion a year – and women do almost two-thirds of the work.
This Father’s Day, it’s time to talk about how critical it is for men to take paid leave. When we had our baby last year, my husband’s parental leave was crucial for my physical recovery and for our ability to bond as a family.
If Pennsylvania enacted a paid leave program, fewer poor health days for workers would also translate to a positive impact on productivity.
For millions of women, all it takes is one major life event – a new baby, a serious illness, losing a job, a family crisis, some unexpected emergency – and everything can unravel. In 2024, several states made significant headway in becoming more equitable for thousands of workers and better supporting women and families.
There has been a surge of workers in the U.S. demanding better from their employers and leading employers have responded. To highlight companies that have cutting-edge leave policies, as well as to showcase the benefits to companies of transparency, we have launched the Leading on Leave Index.
For the mothers balancing the paid and unpaid labor keeping families afloat, we can do better than just flowers this Mother’s Day. A paid leave plan for all would give our superheroes the time they need to be human.
Which states have the most to gain from investments like paid leave? We crunched the numbers in our Paid Leave Means A Stronger Nation fact sheet series – a state-by-state look at the growing need for paid family and medical leave laws.
Shortly after having a little boy, my partner and I got to dive into the scary, competitive, expensive and overwhelming process of finding childcare. Fast forward to now, a year and half later, we have only managed to stay afloat as a family because of the flexibility, support, and policies in place that met me exactly when and where I needed them.
In an economy shaped by white supremacy, the lack of paid vacation time offered to low-wage, service professionals also means that women of color are the most likely to be denied time for leisure, rest, and self-care.
On October 25, 2023, NPWF President Jocelyn Frye delivered the following opening statement before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee at a hearing entitled: “Exploring Paid Leave: Policy, Practice, and Impact on the Workforce." Watch my opening remarks before the Senate...
As America marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one controversy we should not overlook is how Black women leaders — who made vital contributions to the movement as organizers, strategists, and frontline foot soldiers — were relegated to a limited, single speaking segment at the March.
How to know whether a paid leave proposal will meaningfully increase access for the people who need it most, or whether it is just a false promise.
This time of year, there’s a lot of talk about what moms need – and unfortunately, not enough action – so we figured we’d offer a little bit of help.
