FV@W on the 28th Anniversary of FMLA

The 28th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) presents an opportunity to acknowledge the progress we’ve made in the time to care movement, and to crystallize the road ahead in realizing a permanent, inclusive national paid leave program.

When the FMLA was passed in February of 1993, it was a major milestone. The legislation, signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton, provides employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected time to care for themselves or their loved ones. For the first time, it recognized that people needed to provide care regardless of gender and without risking their job or health insurance. Since its inception, FMLA has been used nearly 300 million times.

As we have known since its passage, however, the legislation falls short of the protections and support working families need. The law leaves out 44 percent of the workforce, has a narrow definition of family, and is unpaid, making it unusable even for millions who are eligible.

This week, we are reminded of how far we have to go to secure paid leave for all––no matter where we live, where we work, or who we love. Drawing upon the experience of the Family Values @ Work network––which has won paid family and medical leave policies in 10 states, including Washington, D.C.––we are ready to partner with the new leadership to establish a national paid time to care program and to build a new economy founded on an infrastructure of caring, equity, and respect. We join dozens of groups in the Paid Leave for All campaign in support of the Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan, which will extend and expand paid leave protections for all. Together we will do what it takes to ensure all working families are able to care for and provide for themselves and their loved ones during this pandemic and permanently.

As the FMLA reminds us, change at the federal level can take a very long time. We need the program we establish now to be comprehensive, inclusive and effective.