When Jon Morgan’s first child was born, he faced a significant challenge shared by many fathers in the U.S. - there was no option for paid family leave. Speaking from his San Francisco home, Morgan reflects on the early moments he missed with his newborn, navigating the high stress of balancing work demands and fatherhood. This issue has gained attention in political circuits, with paid family leave, along with other parent-focused policies such as child care and child tax credits, becoming a prominent talking point in this year’s presidential election. The U.S. Surgeon General’s recent advisory stating that American parents’ stress levels have become a public health crisis underscores the gravity of the issue. The lack of a national paid family leave policy in the U.S. is damaging low-income workers the most, as the Family and Medical Leave Act doesn’t sufficiently bridge this gap. Despite a few states implementing mandatory paid family leave policies, a holistic solution is still amiss. However, promising signs of change were sparked during the recent vice presidential debate, where both Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged the importance of paid family leave. Particularly, Walz, having signed a paid family and medical leave law as governor, revealed a shift in focus from mothers to a family-centric approach. Conversely, Vance proposed a “family care model that offers mothers a choice to return to work or stay home. The narrative around paid leave requires revision because its absence not just directly affects mothers but impacts the entire family. A transformation in the societal perception towards policies traditionally viewed as women-centric is necessary for tangible changes in such crucial areas. The overall well-being of families significantly improves when both parents have access to adequate paid family leave, supported by a 2021 study by McKinsey & Co. Scientific evidence also shows that paid paternity leave can ease maternal postpartum health complications and ensure timely child immunization. Dr. Sham Singh, a psychiatrist, echoes this view, sharing that his experience of taking paid leave for his second child’s birth was transformative. He emphasizes that having an effective parental leave system not only aids in establishing balanced family dynamics but can also provide long-term benefits to family health and well-being.

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