Paid family leave (PFL) allows employees to take paid time off during pregnancy, after the birth or adoption of a child, or when a young child or other family member needs care. Many workers must balance pregnancy or caregiving for young children or other family members with work responsibilities. But less than 15% of workers are estimated to have access to PFL, making it difficult for families to attain their full health potential. And low-income employees and workers of color are the least likely to have meaningful access to PFL.
Although federal law requires many businesses to provide unpaid family leave, many low-wage workers cannot afford to take unpaid leave, so low-wage workers often miss out on the health benefits associated with family leave. PFL to care for very young children has been shown to have many health-related benefits for mothers, children, and families. For example, increases in health benefits associated with breastfeeding, better mother-child interactions, and decreased maternal and marital stress.
ChangeLab Solutions has developed resources including fact sheets, a literature review, infographics, articles, and more, detailing the positive health effects of PFL for families, young children, and new mothers.
