Gayle Goldin Deputy Director for the Women’s Bureau | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Labor has unveiled new research highlighting the potential benefits of a national paid family and medical leave program. The findings suggest such a program could reduce poverty levels across various communities, particularly benefiting Black and Hispanic workers who face higher poverty rates.
Commissioned by the department's Women's Bureau, the research was conducted by the Urban Institute. It includes an analysis of how a universal paid family and medical leave policy might impact American workers, a literature review on paid leave effects, and an examination of state policies' impact on taxes. Additionally, there are four state-specific reports assessing proposed paid leave policies in Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Currently, only 13 states and the District of Columbia have established paid family and medical leave programs. As of March 2023, merely 27 percent of civilian workers had access to employer-provided paid family leave, while 41 percent had short-term disability insurance through their employers. Among low-wage earners, just 6 percent have access to paid leave via their employers.
The Urban Institute's study indicates that implementing a national program offering up to 12 weeks of paid leave—similar to the FAMILY Act proposal—could make 97 percent of workers eligible for benefits. A universal policy with equitable design features could potentially reduce poverty by 16 percent among families receiving these benefits.
"The new Urban Institute findings further build the already strong case for paid family and medical leave," stated Women's Bureau Deputy Director Gayle Goldin. "This report shows that a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program keeps people out of poverty. It means more people would stay financially stable when they experience health and caregiving needs, and it would help employers recruit and retain workers."
Goldin also noted that "paid leave supports women’s labor force participation and increases the gross domestic product. Investing in families works for everyone."
For more information or to view the reports, interested parties are encouraged to visit the Department of Labor's website.
