These workers deserve comprehensive paid family and medical leave, so that they are able to spend time with their children. This issue brief presents new analysis by the Center for American Progress that finds that 52 percent of FMLA leaves taken by workers in 2012 occurred when they were also caring for children at home. Particularly, policymakers who tout the importance of children and families’ well-being must acknowledge that children are affected by their parents’ and caregivers’ access to leave. 5Īs policymakers start to address the demand for a federal paid leave policy, they must pursue a comprehensive program that truly meets the needs of all workers and their families, not just a select few. 4 Low-wage and part-time workers-who are disproportionately women-are even less likely to have access to these benefits. Only 17 percent of workers currently have paid family leave through their employers, and only 39 percent have short-term disability coverage. 3 The United States is the only advanced economy that does not guarantee workers access to any form of paid family or medical leave. 2 For too many workers, however, this is a benefit in name only because they cannot afford to take unpaid leave. workers have access to up to 12 weeks of leave for family or medical needs through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Paid leave is gaining more and more attention in Congress, where members are beginning to recognize the importance of allowing workers to care for themselves and their families without sacrificing a paycheck.
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