Who Will Benefit

Nearly everyone, at some point in their lives, will benefit from paid family and medical leave. Here are just a few examples:

Babies and children: With nearly 9 in 10 parents in the workforce, paid family and medical leave helps strengthen family bonds, increase the duration of breastfeeding, and improve children’s health and social development. It is a key part of boosting educational success later in life.

Elders: Paid family and medical leave makes it easier for adult children to care for their aging parents, instead of relying on an expensive nursing home.

Communities and business owners: When families have more economic security, businesses have more customers — that helps every community thrive. Inside a company, paid leave boosts worker retention, morale, and productivity, which increases customer satisfaction – and profits.

Economic opportunity, especially for women: Today, the gender wage gap widens with age, especially during child-bearing and sandwich generation years, creating lifelong economic insecurity for women even in retirement. Paid family and medical leave helps expand work opportunities and level the playing field.

Families and loved ones: As our state’s workforce ages, more spouses – and workers themselves – are at risk of developing serious health problems. Paid family and medical leave allows people to get the care they need then return to work.

State budgets: Paid family and medical leave 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.