An Ohio child advocacy group, Groundwork Ohio, is championing paid family leave. In their recent report, they recommended the implementation of paid leave policies, considering many Ohio residents do not have jobs that offer it. The report highlighted many benefits of paid family leave, including better health outcomes for mothers and babies, reduced infant mortality rates, and decreased emotional and financial stress.

The current predominant paid leave option is the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). However, FMLA doesn’t cover many workers and only provides unpaid leave. Thus, Groundwork Ohio argues in favor of state legislatures backing paid family leave to fill FMLA’s gaps. The U.S. is one of six countries globally without a country-wide paid maternity leave policy, according to Groundwork. The advocacy group recommends amending this and moving towards the average 29 weeks of paid maternity leave provided in most other countries.

Lack of a working paid leave insurance system can harm U.S. workers. Many resort to using their earned vacation or sick time due to family or healthcare reasons. Resultingly, this can induce stress, increase turnover, and lead to poor mental health. Given the rising inaccessibility and unaffordability of childcare in Ohio and nationwide, closing the gaps in paid leave is essential.

Numerous state legislatures have already begun to address paid leave. As of 2023, 21 states and D.C have passed paid leave laws. According to a National Partnership for Women & Families study also done in 2023, such programs have led to improved labor participation, less reliance on public assistance programs, and better health outcomes for parents and children.

Groundwork Ohio also claims that Ohio’s economy could benefit from paid leave policies. For instance, if women in Ohio participated in the labor force at the same rate as women in countries with paid leave policies, additional wages could amount to about $3.9 billion statewide; this could simultaneously stabilize families and boost Ohio’s economy.

For more understanding about paid family leave and how to access their services, it’s advisable for Ohio residents to contact the experts directly. You can achieve this by visiting the contact section of their website or through resources like eddcaller.com for an easy connection. The ‘how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave,’ section provides information on the best times to call, along with useful tips on getting through to an agent and addressing your questions or concerns.