Everyone Will Need Paid Leave Someday—So Why Don’t We Have It?
We’ve all seen the consequences when workers lack access to paid family and medical leave. People return to work before they’ve healed, neglect illnesses until they become debilitating, or go without essential care because loved ones can’t afford to take unpaid leave.
Yet, the current federal administration isn’t prioritizing this issue. Instead of expanding access to policies that help families thrive, we see efforts to limit rights and roll back critical protections. This failure is particularly demeaning to women, who bear the brunt of inadequate paid leave policies and unaffordable child care, making it harder to remain in the workforce and support their families. The U.S. remains one of only six countries worldwide without a national paid leave policy. The President did not mention care issues in the State of the Union, failing to acknowledge the urgency of paid family and medical leave and paid sick and safe days. We must ensure policymakers keep these essential policies front and center.
As interim director of Family Values @ Work, I lead a team supporting coalitions nationwide to guarantee no one lacks care simply due to an absence of paid leave. We’ve seen significant progress at the state level, with 13 states and Washington, D.C., enacting paid family and medical leave laws. Our national network, of which Rhode Island is one, via our partnership with the Economic Progress Institute of RI includes groups like New Jersey Citizen Action, 9to5 Georgia, and Family Forward Oregon, continues working to ensure paid leave for all, benefiting both caregivers and those in need of care.
Momentum for paid leave stems from a fundamental reality: at some point, every worker or their loved ones will face a serious illness, injury, or emergency requiring time to care. Workers also need paid safe days in situations ranging from extreme weather disasters to domestic violence crises. They must be able to evacuate family members during wildfires, survive extreme cold, or manage resources in the wake of disasters—all without fear of losing their income or job.
Even after policies pass, effective implementation and improvements are crucial. Early adopters like Rhode Island and California are expanding eligibility and redefining family to be more inclusive. Too often, paid leave policies narrowly define family, excluding many caregiving relationships. We must ensure LGBTQ+ individuals and non-traditional caregivers are included in these protections.
When Family Values @ Work began over two decades ago, paid leave advocacy was a small field. Today, we work alongside national coalitions like Care Can’t Wait and Paid Leave for All to advance this movement. We amplify workers’ stories, support advocacy efforts, and collaborate with business groups like Main Street Alliance to develop policies that benefit both families and businesses. As we move forward, we’ll continue supporting state-based partners in implementing and refining paid leave legislation.
Everyone has a role in the fight for paid leave and paid sick and safe days. This is not just a policy issue – it’s a fundamental question of dignity, economic stability, and basic human rights. The lack of paid leave keeps families trapped in cycles of financial insecurity and forces impossible choices between caring for loved ones and keeping a job. It is unacceptable that in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, workers still have to beg for the time they need to heal or care for their families. It’s time to demand action from our leaders and to hold them accountable for failing to prioritize working families. Get involved and help secure paid leave policies that protect workers and families nationwide. Contact your representatives to push for real policy changes. The time to act is now – our families, our communities and our economy depend on it.
by Liana Cassar, FV@W Interim Executive Director
