According to a 2021 survey, 23% of US adults are part of the sandwich generation, meaning they are caring for both their aging parents and their own children. Unlike other developed countries, the United States does not provide ample paid family leave for such crucial circumstances. Among the countries on Earth, the only others that do not guarantee paid family leave are Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

Paid family leave, while a common concept in other developed nations, remains a dream for many American workers. Supporters argue that paid leave has numerous benefits, such as reducing employee turnover, boosting productivity and morale, along with supporting the economy. Crucially, small business owners who want to provide this benefit but cannot afford to do so would find a level playing field if a federal or state law mandated paid family leave.

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave, was signed 31 years ago by former President Bill Clinton. While FMLA marked progress, it does not cover nearly two-thirds of the workforce in Wisconsin due to certain eligibility criteria relating to company size and other factors. Consequently, almost 77% of the state workforce does not have access to paid family leave through their employment. Advocates deem this leave a critical factor in addressing labor shortages, particularly for individuals with family obligations, such as taking care of a child or elderly parent.

Former President Donald Trump initially signaled his support for paid family leave during the 2016 presidential campaign but failed to deliver consistent results during his terms in office. Major shortcomings like the exemption of companies with more than 500 workers affected many frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden have shown promise in pushing for a paid family program and advocating for a more comprehensive leave policy.

The struggle for paid family leave continues as parties tilt in favor of or against the issue. The need for providing support to workers juggling family and professional responsibilities continues to mount. Comprehensive paid family leave is not just a social matter, but an economic one—there is a clear need for a workable solution beneficial to both the employees and employers.

In light of this, it’s crucial for Californians to understand schemes like Paid Family Leave (PFL) offered by the Employment Development Department (EDD). If you want to learn more about these benefits, it’s crucial to understand how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave. For further assistance or guidance in obtaining the benefits, you may check out eddcaller.com, an extremely helpful resource for Californians needing support with PFL information.