Paid Family and Medical Leave
Skip to main content
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Our Mission
    • Our Mission Overview
    • Why Health Equity
    • Focus Areas
    • Measuring RWJF Progress
    • Activation test
    • Why Health Equity
    • Why Health Equity
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Active Funding Opportunities
    • Awarded Grants
    • Grantee Stories
    • Grant Process
    • Grantee Resources
  • Insights
    • Insights Overview
    • Blog
    • Our Research
    • Advocacy And Policy
  • About RWJF
    • About RWJF Overview
    • Our Guiding Principles
    • How We Work
    • Impact Investments
    • Staff And Trustees
    • Newsroom
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
Find A Grant

    Paid Family and Medical Leave

    Brief Nov-21-2016 | Findlay S | 3-min read
    1. Insights
    2. Our Research
    3. Paid Family and Medical Leave
    Download brief
    A man holds his newborn infant in a hospital waiting room.  MedVerse - Hablamos Juntos

    Proponents of mandatory paid family and medical leave argue that it’s long past time that the United States got in step with other wealthy nations.

     

    What's the issue?

    Most people at some point in their lives need to take time away from work to deal with a serious personal or family illness or to care for a new child. In contrast to almost every other developed nation in the world, the United States has no federal law that guarantees paid family or medical leave, whether that leave is to care for a new child or a seriously ill family member, or to address one's own serious health condition. Indeed, the United States is one of only two wealthy, industrialized countries (along with South Korea) that does not guarantee paid medical leave for serious illness.

    The United States does have a law—the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993—that requires some businesses to offer unpaid leave to some workers for serious medical and family care needs.

    Proponents of mandatory paid family and medical leave argue that it's long past time that the United States got in step with other wealthy nations. They point to the hidden costs of the status quo and a growing body of evidence that shows that paid leave improves family financial stability and public health, and that it's a plus for businesses as well as workers. Opponents assert that mandatory paid family and medical leave places a significant burden on businesses and should be a benefit they choose to offer, or not. They point to the many large and midsize employers that offer paid leave to full-time employees as examples of this alternative system. In addition, they argue, it's a policy issue best left to states.

    Four states have enacted paid medical and family leave laws—California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. And paid family leave laws were proposed in twenty states plus the District of Columbia in 2016.

    This debate has been under way for many years but has become reenergized during the past year by a recently proposed national law—the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act--as well as state policy victories, substantial public activism, and the presidential campaign. Even some conservative groups, once reluctant to endorse policy solutions that involve public investments, have proposed access to paid leave.

    The politics of guaranteed paid leave remain uncertain, however. President-elect Donald Trump during the campaign surprised many in the Republican Party by proposing a modest paid maternity leave policy. Republicans in Congress might oppose guaranteed paid leave in any form or promote their own reform. For example, some lawmakers have proposed voluntary programs aimed at incentivizing businesses to offer paid leave and workers to save for their own medical and family absences.

    What's next?

    Proponents of paid leave are expected to significantly ramp up their efforts in 2017 in both the states and the District of Columbia. In then-candidate Donald Trump's proposed paid maternity leave plan, some proponents might find reason to be hopeful about the potential for future bipartisan collaboration on the issue. But with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, movement on legislation as progressive as the FAMILY Act is unlikely in 2017. The difficulty inherent in creating a new entitlement program for US workers cannot be overstated. Much depends—as with other issues--on whether a moderation in the hyper-partisan and combative political environment takes place.

    Other social and political issues could also give impetus to paid leave. In particular, public debate over wage stagnation, pay inequality between men and women, and the widening gap in income and assets (including retirement savings) between low-wage and middle-income families and upper-middle-class and wealthy families are likely to include prominent mention of the paid leave gap between rich and poor. These debates could create pressure to pass laws that help lower- and middle-income families beyond policies such as raising the minimum wage.

    Related Content

    Brief
    Bonnie CLAC is an innovative program that makes cars affordable for the working poor. This results in more than just lower payments. It can lead to more informed health care decisions, reduced stress, and a healthy sense of control.

    Paid Family Leave Policies and Population Health

    Evidence suggests that the introduction of paid family leave for up to one year may yield child and maternal health benefits in the short and long run.

    2-min read

    Social Determinants of Health Policy and Law
    • About this Grant
    SHOW MORE
    +

    SHARE

    Subscribe to receive Funding Alerts & more

    Explore the latest in reflection and research from subject matter experts at RWJF and our wide network of partners.

    Email address already subscribed. Please check your inbox to manage your subscriptions.

    Subscribed!

    Thank you. You are now subscribed.

    Tell us what type of content you want to receive.

    Be informed with our weekly newsletter updating you with relevant news and research around a Culture of Health, as well as the latest funding opportunities.

    Get funded by RWJF: Receive notifications when new funding opportunities are released.

    Receive monthly updates on RWJF-sponsored research that informs many robust health policy debates on Capitol Hill, covering topics like health equity, improving access to quality healthcare, equitable housing, and more.

    Shop talk for researchers. This monthly newsletter covers research news and opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

    Sometimes we have news, announcements or opportunities that don't quite fit the subscription parameters above. If you're interested, we'll send you this information under "There's more...". *If you've indicated you are an EU resident, we will only send these communications if you intentionally check this box.

    Yes! I want to tell you more about myself and receive personalized communications in the future.

    Area(s) Of Interest

    Which profession or pursuit best describes you?

    Unsubscribe

    Stop receiving all emails from RWJF

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    • CONTACT RWJF

      50 College Road East

      Princeton, NJ 08540-6614

       

      US Toll Free: (877) 843-7953

      International: +1 (609) 627-6000

    • MANAGE YOUR GRANTS

      MyRWJF Login

      • Twitter link
      • Facebook link
      • LinkedIn link
      • YouTube link

    • Our Mission
      • Our Mission Overview
      • Why Health Equity
      • Focus Areas
      • Measuring RWJF Progress
      • Activation test
      • Why Health Equity
      • Why Health Equity
    • Grants
      • Grants Overview
      • Active Funding Opportunities
      • Awarded Grants
      • Grantee Stories
      • Grant Process
      • Grantee Resources
    • Insights
      • Insights Overview
      • Blog
      • Our Research
      • Advocacy And Policy
    • About RWJF
      • About RWJF Overview
      • Our Guiding Principles
      • How We Work
      • Impact Investments
      • Staff And Trustees
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Contact Us

    ©2001- 

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 

     

    • Manage Email
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms and Conditions