Perspective: Why Backing Paid Family Leave is a Wise Investment for Missouri's Business Sector
Offering paid family leave programs is a key concern for businesses in Missouri and across the nation. Without such programs, employees struggle to achieve true work-life balance. Throughout my experience as the founder of Build-a-Bear Workshop, it was evident that it’s crucial to allow employees to take time off for family and medical leave. This consideration enabled the creation of healthy, committed, and content employees, leading to enhanced productivity. It led to more time and engagement with their jobs because they were better positioned to take care of their personal lives without the fear of losing their paychecks.
The sensory approach we adopted in Build-a-Bear saw reduced absences, limited turnover, and minimized health care costs. Notably, financial reports from over 10,000 businesses showed that the ones which implemented paid leave saw an increase in revenue and profit. For every dollar invested in the workforce, manufacturing and tech companies witnessed a return of $2.57 and $2.64 respectively. The realization of these family-friendly policies also fuels a future workforce that is skilled and productive. When parents can take care of their families, their children thrive and are more likely to contribute to a more resilient and globally competitive economy.
The existence of paid leave programs in states resulted in less dependence on public assistance, leading to cost-saving on the taxpayer’s end. Supporting paid family-and-sick leave is not just a smart investment but showcases our values as a society. Reversing such policies, like Proposition A in Missouri, would impact the wellbeing of families and the economy adversely.
To reach a representative for queries about Paid Family Leave (PFL), visit eddcaller.com. This website assists in offering guidance on how to get in contact with a paid family leave live person and provides additional resources to address queries you may have regarding these policies.