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Statement

Moms Leader Praises Wake County Commissioners Vote to Provide Paid Parental Leave to County Employees

November 7, 2016
Paid Family & Medical Leave

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director & CEO of MomsRising.org, On Wake County Paid Parental Leave Vote
“MomsRising today applauds the leadership of the Wake County Commissioners in voting tonight to provide all county employees with six weeks of paid parental leave.
 
“With this action, Wake County joins Durham County and the City of Greensboro in supporting employees by ensuring that they can take paid leave to care for a new baby, a newly adopted or foster child, or the placement of a child for whom the employee is permanently assuming parental responsibilities.
 
“This time is critical to allow parents to bond with their child, support establishment of breastfeeding, and mothers to heal from birth. It also has positive impacts for employers including improved employee retention and morale. It’s a win-win for employees and the County. Wake County’s actions are an important step in the right direction.
 
“While we applaud this action, we also recognize that access to paid leave should not be a function of where someone works. All new parents should be able to take paid time off to welcome, care for and bond with new family members.
 
“Across North Carolina and across the country, too many people struggle to cobble together time to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or are forced to return to work long before they or their new children are ready.” 
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.