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(StatePoint) The United States is one of the only countries in the world that does not guarantee paid family and medical leave to workers, leaving millions of babies without the care they need in their earliest months of life.
Paid leave is associated with higher breastfeeding rates, regularly attended well-child visits with pediatricians, and other key markers of short- and long-term health for young children and adults. Plus, early relationships with parents and caregivers, specifically in the first three years of life, shape a child’s brain development, laying the foundation for lifelong learning, health and well-being.
With less than a third of people in the United States having access to paid family and medical leave, many families are left without financial security during a critical time for child development. Access to paid family and medical leave is lowest among workers with the greatest needs, including those with lower incomes, without college degrees, and who work part time. The production, transportation, construction, maintenance and service sectors have some of the lowest rates of access.
Advocates are bringing awareness to the many working parents and caregivers who are forced to sacrifice their jobs and savings when they need time off to bond with their young children or care for themselves or a sick or injured family member.
“All workers—regardless of location, education or job type—should have access to paid family and medical leave to provide the care and stability children and families need to thrive,” says Emmett Avery, coalition manager for the Vermont Paid Leave Coalition, a statewide alliance advocating for the strong paid family and medical leave program in Vermont.
Interestingly, paid family and medical leave is not only good for families, real-world results show that it’s also good for businesses and the economy. Access to paid leave benefits businesses by increasing employee productivity and morale, improving employee retention, and reducing turnover costs, and states with paid leave programs see fewer families relying on public assistance, lowering costs for taxpayers.
“Paid family and medical leave is a commonsense policy that's supported by an overwhelming majority of voters and essential for infants and toddlers, families, businesses and the economy,” says Dan O'Brien the policy director for Children First PA, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of children in Pennsylvania and beyond. “Everyone can help push for policies that give all working families the time they need to care for their loved ones without sacrificing their jobs or financial security.”
If you believe all families deserve the time and support to care for loved ones without risking their jobs or financial security, advocates encourage you to act now. You can join the movement for paid family and medical leave at https://ncit.org/take-action/paid-family-and-medical-leave-action/ and help push for policies that put children and caregivers first.
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