Welcoming a new child, fighting cancer, caring for an aging parent – a handful of times in life, we all need to take significant time off work to care for ourselves or our families.

But too many Washington workers face an impossible choice: return to work, sacrificing family health and well-being – or give up economic security.

Several states have successfully responded to this problem by creating Family and Medical Leave Insurance. By partially replacing lost wages when it really counts, FMLI benefits:

Children: With nearly 9 in 10 parents in the workforce, FMLI helps strengthen family bonds, increase the duration of breastfeeding, and improve children’s health and social development.

School readiness: A child’s first and best teacher is his or her parent. FMLI is step one of any comprehensive early learning system, and is essential to every child’s educational success.

Seniors: FMLI makes it easier for adult children to care for their aging parents, instead of relying on an expensive nursing home.

Businesses: Studies show paid family leave increases worker retention. FMLI also boosts morale, worker productivity, customer satisfaction – and profits.

Women: The gender wage gap widens with age, especially during child-bearing and sandwich generation years, creating lifelong economic insecurity for women even in retirement. FMLI helps expand work opportunities and level the playing field.

Workers: As Washington’s workforce ages, more spouses – and workers themselves – are at risk of developing serious health problems. FMLI allows people to get the care they need then return to work.

Washington: FMLI improves worker health and frees up public funds by helping families avoid public assistance, promoting family care for seniors instead of more expensive facilities, and giving all kids a strong and healthy start in life.