Paid Family and Medical Leave Policies
This policy inventory compiles some paid family and medical leave (PFML) policies that states can choose to put into place to support economic security for families with young children.
Implementing or Expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Offering paid family leave for a minimum of six weeks with partial replacement of wages. As of 2023, 11 states have passed PFML laws: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington state, along with Washington, D.C. New Hampshire and Virginia have passed private paid leave insurance laws.
Six states have implemented PFML policies.
Examples:
California, New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, Connecticut, District of Columbia (overview from New America)
Case Study:
New Jersey (from New America)
Sources:
BPC: Paid Family Leave: The Basics
BPC: State Paid Family Leave Laws across the US
NCCP: Early Childhood Profiles
New America: Explainer: Paid and Unpaid Leave Policies in the United States
New America: Explainer: Paid Leave Benefits and Funding in the United States
Pn3 Policy Impact Center: Paid Family Leave State Policy Lever Checklist
Bureau of Labor Statistics data on paid family leave: here and here
Center for American Progress: Video: State momentum on paid leave
Allowing Sick Days Accrual
- Offering accrual of at least five paid sick days
Fourteen states have implemented accrual of sick days.
Source: NCCP: Early Childhood Profiles
Expanding Paid Family Leave and Wage Replacement
- Expanding the number of weeks available for leave
- Increasing wage replacement, particularly so that low-income workers are better able to afford to take advantage of paid family and medical leave
Source:
ZTT: Pathways to Prosperity: Promoting Economic Security for Families with Infants and Toddlers
