Executive Summary

At some point during their lives, virtually all workers will need time away from work to care for a loved one and/or cope with a health problem of their own. While this need for time off is nearly universal, a significant share of workers in the United States currently lacks access to any kind of guaranteed leave to provide or receive care. Thus, many workers are forced to choose between caring for themselves or a loved one and losing wages or even their job. Paid leave benefits are also highly inequitably distributed; workers who earn more, work for large employers, or hold white-collar jobs are much more likely to have access to paid family and/or medical leave.

This chapter describes how, in the absence of a national policy, states have stepped up as critical leaders in advancing paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs. To date, ten jurisdictions have adopted some form of paid leave policy (CA, CT, DC, HI, MA, NJ, NY, PR, RI, WA). The experiences of these states can offer valuable lessons for future programs. In particular, states have learned the importance of providing sufficient wage replacement rates to permit lower-wage workers to actually use the benefits, conducting robust education and outreach campaigns to inform the public about the program, and simplifying the administrative burden of applying for benefits for both applicants and administrators.

Next, the chapter discusses three policy options for states interested in developing a paid family and medical leave program:

  1. Universal, contributory social insurance program, exclusive state fund—Throughout their careers, all workers contribute to a state social insurance fund—out of which all benefits are paid—in return for an earned benefit should a PFML need arise.
  2. Contributory social insurance program with regulated private options—Employers are required to offer a certain level and type of coverage and to comply with specified anti-discrimination and other consumer protections. Employers are free to choose between utilizing the state fund, self-insuring, and/ or purchasing a private plan for coverage.
  3. Employer mandate—Employers are obligated to provide paid leave benefits directly to their workers, either by self-insuring or by purchasing private coverage.

After choosing a model for the program, policymakers must determine other important design features, including eligibility requirements, qualifying events, the definition of family, benefit design, and job protection. There are also factors surrounding program implementation and integration to consider, such as program administration, education and outreach, evaluation, integration with other state policy mechanisms, coordination with existing employee benefit plans, and coverage for self-employed workers. Ultimately, however, absent a robust national program, states can substantially improve quality of life and financial security for workers and their families by implementing well designed paid family and medical leave programs.

"It was a real honor to work with Academy members on the challenging issue of caregiving leave policy. States have the potential to take the lead on these issues, and the report highlights critical areas for consideration as states craft these policies."
Aparna Mathur
"Social programs to help families raise children and take care of elders are haphazard, leave many gaps, and don’t help families when they need it most. Using a social insurance approach pools risks of illness and family care among all workers and employers and provides income to workers when they must be away from work to attend to care needs. In this Academy report, state policymakers and public interest groups will find a menu of ways to help workers return to their jobs ready to work after being ill, welcoming a new child, or taking care of parents or other family members."
Heidi Hartmann

INFOGRAPHICS

CHAPTER 2 INFOGRAPHIC DOWNLOADS (PDFS)

The Case for Action: Paid Family and Medical Leave
States are Leading the Way with Social Insurance Programs for Paid Family and Medical Leave
Designing a State-Level Paid Family and Medical Leave Program

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