Washington Work and Family Coalition

New name, same values – and more progress for WA families!

The Washington Family Leave Coalition has made some changes – including our name! We’re now the Washington Work and Family Coalition.

The new name reflects our more ambitious goals for healthy families and responsible businesses, include both expanding family medical leave insurance to include care for seriously ill family members and the worker’s own serious health condition as well as state paid sick days.

These workplace benefits are critical for the economic security of working people and families. We remain committed to working for responsible workplace policies that support healthy families and strong businesses in Washington.

We hope you’ll follow us on Twitter, ‘Like’ us on Facebook, and check out our revamped website.

Lessons from Winning Paid Sick Days in Seattle

Via Washington Policy Watch:

In September 2011, the City of Seattle adopted minimum standards for paid sick and safe leave, covering most people employed inside the city limits.

Beginning in September 2012, an estimated 150,000 people will newly have the right to earn time off with pay to attend to their own health needs, care for a sick family member, or deal with the consequences of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Thousands of additional workers who already have some paid leave benefits will gain greater access to paid sick days.

Many of the people who now must choose between going to work sick or losing a day’s pay are employed in restaurants, grocery stores, retail, and health care – putting all of us at risk.

The Economic Opportunity Institute helped lead the Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce in a successful campaign to pass the Paid Sick and Safe Days ordinance in Seattle, and we learned a lot. From partnering with business owners to working with policy makers, this report outlines – from our experience – some of the key ingredients to winning policy change for working people and families.

New evidence shows CA paid family leave is good for workers and employers alike

Via Washington Policy Watch:

New research shows workers and families are benefiting from California’s paid family leave law – and most employers say it’s had either positive effects or no impact on their business.

Under California’s first-in-the-nation paid family leave (PFL) program, enacted in 2004, workers who become new parents or care for an ill family member can take up to 6 weeks of partially paid leave (55% of a worker’s weekly pay).

Researchers at Columbia University who analyzed the effects of the PFL program on the labor market and new mothers’ use of leave found PFL doubles the average length of leave for new mothers – from 3 weeks to at least 6 weeks.

These effects were most evident among mothers from economically disadvantaged groups – including non-college educated, unmarried, Hispanic, and Black moms – whose average length of leave increased from 1-2 weeks to 4-7 weeks. The research also suggests that PFL increases work hours and wage income for those mothers who returned to work.

On the employer’s end of the experience, another study found business owners’ fears of increased costs and abuse of the policy were unfounded. Six years after California implemented PFL, more than nine in ten employers reported they were not aware of any instances of abuse of the program. Small businesses were less likely than larger companies to report negative effects. Other findings from employers include:

89% reported “positive” or “no noticeable” effects on productivity.

91% reported “positive” or “no noticeable” effects on profitability or performance.

96% reported “positive” or “no noticeable” effects on turnover.

Researchers also found that PFL increased retention among workers in low-quality jobs (paying less than $20 per hour and providing employer-paid health insurance): 83% who used PFL returned to the same employer, compared with 74% of those who did not use PFL. There are also positive effects on workers’ ability to care for a new child and arrange child care, and increased duration of breastfeeding for all new mothers who used PFL.

Locally, the Washington Family Leave Coalition is working to ensure people in our state also have access to paid leave. The state’s Family Medical and Leave Insurance program was established in 2007, and is currently scheduled for implementation in 2015.