Facts on Family Leave

Why is paid family and medical leave necessary?

• According to BPW, 64% of workers who need family or medical leave do not take it because they cannot afford the time off without pay.
• Furthermore, 21% of low-income workers who do not take some leave must turn to welfare for support.
• Research shows that providing wage replacement during leave has a significant effect on women working later into their pregnancies and returning to work faster. This increased time in the workforce leads to higher earnings and helps women stay on a career development track.
• One in four Americans had elder care responsibilities in 1997. More than one third of workers with these obligations reduced their work hours, and subsequently their pay, or took time off without pay to provide that care.
• Almost half of all caregivers provide care for at least eight hours per week, and 21% spend between nine and 20 hours per week on care-giving – a particularly heavy burden for the majority of caregivers who are employed full-time (52%).

• The national economic value of informal care-giving in 1997 was $196 billion – much of which working caregivers must absorb in the absence of income during leave.

(Provided by Business & Professional Women/USA)

(Courtesy of CPA at www.stateaction.org)

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