The Family and Medical Leave Act was hailed as revolutionary for its time when President Clinton signed it into law in 1993. Workers were guaranteed job protection if they needed to take time off to care for themselves, a newborn baby or a sick family member. Laura Barrón-López spoke with Jocelyn Frye of the National Partnership for Women and Families about its impact and the challenges ahead.

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Calls for paid leave for workers have grown louder in the US in the 30 years since the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 1993. The FMLA provides 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for certain medical and family reasons. However, the lack of paid leave has become increasingly apparent in the intervening years, as more and more workers struggle to make ends meet while taking time off to care for a family member or recover from an illness.

The need for paid leave is especially pressing for low-wage workers and those in the gig economy, who often have little to no access to paid time off. In addition, many workers are unable to take advantage of the FMLA due to its stringent eligibility requirements. This leaves many without the ability to take time off when they need it, forcing them to make difficult choices between taking care of their health or the health of their families and keeping their jobs.

The lack of paid leave has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, as workers have been forced to take unpaid leave or risk their health and safety in order to maintain their jobs. This has led to an increased focus on the need for paid leave, with the Biden administration proposing a new federal paid leave program that would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers.

The proposal has been met with both support and criticism, with some arguing that it would be too costly and others arguing that it would not go far enough to provide adequate paid leave for workers. However, it is clear that the need for paid leave is growing and that the current system is inadequate in providing workers with the protection they need.

As calls for paid leave grow louder, it is important to remember the progress that has been made since the passage of the FMLA. While the law is far from perfect, it has provided some measure of protection for workers who need to take time off for medical or family reasons. As the debate continues, it is important to recognize the need for paid leave and work towards a solution that provides workers with the protection they need and deserve.