The FAMILY Act
By Diane Harris and Nat Baldino
When workers in the United States experience serious illness or caregiving responsibilities, they have few places to turn. While the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) provides federal job-protected leave for certain workers, the United States remains one of the few countries that does not offer paid family or medical leave. This leaves working families with the difficult choice between financial stability and their health and well-being. The recently re-introduced Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act hopes to build on the successes of state models to establish a comprehensive and inclusive federal paid leave policy that meets the needs of workers.