For the first time, on March 18, more than 70 brands and organizations across the US closed up for a day to raise awareness about the nation’s lack of paid family leave, pressing for the urgent passing of a federal law. This initiative was coordinated by Paid Leave for All under the banner, “We’re Closed for Paid Leave. This unique collective action comprised globally recognized companies such as the fashion brand Hatch, stroller company Bugaboo, and postpartum wellness company Anya. The move symbolized the potential impact of women leaving the workforce due to a lack of paid family and medical leave, given that the US is one of only seven countries worldwide lacking a national paid family leave law.

“Paid leave is a powerful tool for economic growth and for gender and racial equity, and Congress can’t take women, our issues—or our votes—for granted any longer, said Dawn Huckelbridge, founding director of Paid Leave for All. Goldman, founder and CEO of Hatch, supported the initiative, calling it a step to ensuring the protection and support of all women and families during some of their most vulnerable moments.

The push for paid leave as a policy is gaining momentum. President Biden has pledged commitment to passing paid leave and has included a $325 billion provision for paid leave in his 2025 budget. Josephine Kalipeni, the executive director of Family Values @ Work, stressed the vitality of passing paid leave on a national level, considering the larger proportion of caregivers who are female.

The lack of policy support for paid family has resulted in detrimental consequences for women, particularly low-income women and Black women. It has not only cost them jobs and pay, but also affected their mental and physical health. Women are also experiencing alarmingly high burnout levels compared to men since 2019, and the maternal mortality rate, likewise, has more than doubled in the past 20 years.

To track updates or join this fight, you can visit paidleaveforall.org. If you need assistance processing your Paid Family Leave request, you can reach out to Paid Family Leave for inquiries on how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave.