Paid Family & Medical Leave

Paid family and medical leave combats poverty, gives children a healthy start, and lowers the wage gap between women and men by providing structural support to balance work and family.

Know the Facts

Right now only 17% (!) of Americans have access to paid family leave through their employer and fewer than 40% have personal medical leave provided through an employer.
Although the current Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows some employees to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave, it only covers about 60 percent of employees.
A quarter of all poverty spells in the United States are because of having a baby.
The U.S is one of the only countries in the world that doesn't offer paid leave to new mothers.
Paid family leave has been shown to reduce infant mortality by as much as 20% (and the U.S. ranks a low 37th of all countries in infant mortality).
Paid leave improves worker retention, which saves employers money through reduced turnover cost.

What You Can Do

In September 2010, I gave birth to my first child via c-section. I had arranged for 12 weeks of maternity leave at 2/3 pay, using vacation time, sick leave, and taking four weeks unpaid. I worked for a small nonprofit that lacked resources for paid maternity leave. Fortunately my husband's company...Read more

Jennifer

Blog posts

Strong Care Square onesie for Care Economy Storybook

Childcare & Early Education Families & The Federal Budget Family Economic Security Health Care Immigration Maternal Justice Paid Family Leave Paid Sick Days Politics & Policy

08/19/21

It's not enough to go back to where we were. We need to build back better. In our Care Economy Storybook 2021, MomsRising has captured powerful and moving stories from families across the nation about how hard it is to give care, making the case that it doesn't have to be this way.

MomsRising Together

Kerri Karvetski

Childcare & Early Education

08/19/21

Our priorities are at risk and we need your help to keep the pressure on! Pick up your phone and text CARE to 747464. Tell your lawmaker you’re COUNTING ON THEM to support child care, paid leave, and more. It’s time to make transformative change.

MomsRising Together

Nate White

Family Economic Security Food! Immigration Paid Family Leave Politics & Policy

08/05/21

While August is usually a quiet time on the legislative front, the pandemic has made this year anything but usual. In fact, August is busier than ever on the legislative front! So we need your help making sure our leaders prioritize building a care infrastructure. Here are #5Actions that need your attention.

MomsRising Together

Sue Anne Reed

Breastfeeding Maternal Justice Paid Family Leave

08/01/21

Throughout National Breastfeeding Month, MomsRising will shine a spotlight on the barriers that many parents face in meeting doctors’ recommended breastfeeding guidelines and we will lift up our members stories - the struggles, the joys, and every moment in between. Please join us in celebrating the month with observances each week.

MomsRising Education Fund

Tina Sherman

Breastfeeding Paid Family Leave

07/29/21

We must take a moment to lift up and support our fellow parents who have struggled to meet their breastfeeding goals. We know that many parents want to breastfeed or chestfeed, but face challenge after challenge in trying to meet their goals. Empower parents by taking these #5Actions this week to support breastfeeding families.

MomsRising Together

Tina Sherman