The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) was a key piece of federal legislation that secured the right of working Americans to take up to 12 unpaid weeks off of work for the birth of their child and more. However, nearly 30 years later, our country has fallen behind the rest of the world.
Approximately 40% of Americans do not qualify for leave under the FMLA at all, and many of those who are covered cannot afford to take unpaid leave without falling into financial distress. The United States remains the only wealthy nation in the world that does not guarantee any form of paid leave, particularly parental leave.
Paid Family + Medical Leave Playbook (PDF) Improving Our Maternity Care Now: Four Care Models State Policymakers Must Implement for Healthier Moms and Babies (PDF) Key Components: The Essential Elements of a Strong Paid Family and Medical Leave Law (PDF) Paid Leave is Essential for Healthy Moms and Babies (PDF) Paid Family and Medical Leave Talking Points (PDF) Model State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Statute (PDF)