February 5, 2023, marked the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The FMLA was a landmark achievement that helped workers meet the dual demands of work and family, and it has enabled hundreds of millions of much-needed leaves in the 30 years since its passage. However, the law’s restrictive eligibility criteria mean that nearly half of all employees are not covered. Even for those who are covered, FMLA leave is often unpaid, putting it out of reach for those who cannot afford to go without a paycheck; low-income workers, including many women of color, are often those least able to access paid leave.
Many states and cities have stepped up to fill this gap by providing expanded leave rights, including 11 states that have passed paid family and medical leave laws: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington state, along with Washington, D.C. In the wake of the 2022 midterm elections, even more states are poised to pass such laws.
Please join the Center for American Progress and the National Partnership for Women & Families for a conversation on how paid leave laws at the state level are delivering for workers, businesses, and communities while building momentum for federal paid leave. The event will feature a conversation between Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) and President of the National Partnership Jocelyn Frye, as well as an expert panel discussion.
Introductory remarks:
Mara Rudman, Executive Vice President, Policy, Center for American Progress
In conversation:
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D-MN)
Jocelyn Frye, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Panelist:
State Sen. Jennifer Boysko, (D-VA)
Gayle Goldin, Deputy Director for the Women’s Bureau, U.S. Dept. of Labor
State Rep. Linda Serrato, (D-NM)
Moderator:
Molly Weston Williamson, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress