How can we better support families welcoming a new child? How can companies enhance their care for employees to promote a fair and just society?
Companies must prioritize the well-being of their employees, as they are essential to the organization’s success. Employees should never be viewed as disposable or dispensable. Paid family leave is essential for promoting health equity and reproductive justice as it allows parents to care for new children or sick family members without losing income, leading to better health outcomes.
Understanding Reproductive Justice
Reproductive justice is the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, social and economic wellbeing of women, girls, and birthing people grounded in the full realization and protection of their rights. It ensures that they have the right to decide whether to have children or not, and to parent in a safe and healthy environment. Reproductive rights have been a major controversial issue within the United States. Society often fails to provide women necessary care during and after childbirth, while simultaneously restricting their autonomy over their own bodies. Many women and birthing people lack access to proper reproductive healthcare including contraception, abortion, prenatal care, and sex education. Reproductive justice is crucial because it addresses the root causes of reproductive inequality and works towards creating a more just and equitable society.
Understanding Paid Family Medical Leave
Paid family and medical leave refers to policies that enable workers to receive wage replacement when they take extended time off from work for qualifying reasons, such as bonding with a new child, recovering from their own serious health condition or caring for a loved one with a serious health condition. Companies in the United States are not mandated to provide paid family leave to its employees and full job protection.
Employees are humans, not just labor. Letting people go because of health and family responsibilities should be considered a discriminatory practice against employees as it unfairly penalizes individuals for circumstances beyond their control. This practice can disproportionately affect certain groups, particularly women, who are more likely to take on caregiving roles, and individuals with disabilities or chronic health conditions.
The U.S. Context
The United States remains one of just six countries worldwide that does not offer paid parental leave and is the only developed nation that does not guarantee any kind of paid leave to workers. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons. However, this leave is only available to workers who have been employed with the same employer for at least 1,250 hours over the 12 months prior to the start of leave, and it does not address the financial strain many workers face during such periods.
This lack of financial support is particularly challenging for low-wage workers and people of color, who often have less access to paid leave than their counterparts. Consequently, many employees, especially women, are forced to quit their jobs, be fired, or return to work before they are physically and mentally ready. The stress of going back to work soon after giving birth is detrimental for both women and their children, highlighting a significant reproductive justice issue.
Why does this matter for Health Equity and Reproductive Justice?
Paid family leave is a critical component of health equity and reproductive justice. It ensures that all employees, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to care for their families without financial strain. This is particularly important for low-wage workers and people of color, who are less likely to have access to paid leave. By providing paid family leave, we can reduce health disparities and promote better health outcomes for all families. Ensuring that everyone has the ability to take time off to care for themselves or their loved ones without risking their financial stability is a fundamental aspect of a fair and just society. This aligns with the principles of reproductive justice, which advocate for the right to have children, not have children, and parent in safe and supportive environments.
Benefits of Paid Family Leave
Research suggests that underprivileged families may benefit most from parental leave policies, starting with better birth outcomes, including fewer early term births, possibly owing to decreased stress during pregnancy. Additionally, such actions can perpetuate economic and social inequalities, as affected employees may struggle to find new employment while managing their health or family needs. By a company showing that they care about their employees, it in turn boosts company morale and productivity leading to a higher retention rate.
Advancing Health Equity through Paid Family Leave
Paid family leave is an integral part of retaining employees. A company is only as successful as those who work for it. Providing universally paid family leave and medical leave can reduce socioeconomic disparities and increase equity. To ensure health equity for all, we must:
- Advocate for companies to adopt paid family leave policies that support the well-being and retention of all employees.
- Support families and value employees to contribute to a healthier, more equitable society.
- Study the impacts of paid family leave on health, retention, and economic stability to provide evidence for policy changes.
- Leverage research findings in advocacy efforts to campaign for legislative changes and highlight positive outcomes.
- Meet with local government officials and policymakers to discuss the positive impacts of paid family leave. Present research findings and personal stories to illustrate its benefits.
- Invest in initiatives that support paid family leave research, advocacy, and implementation to drive systemic change.
By supporting families and valuing employees, we can contribute to a healthier, more equitable society and advance the principles of reproductive justice.
Interested in learning more?
- Check out our webinar and resource on: Next Steps in Addressing Pregnancy Related Mortality
- Find more resources on reproductive and sexual health in our resource library.
- Check out our partner organization HealthyWomen
- Attend our upcoming webinar: Saving Lives: Reproductive Justice as an Essential Health Equity Matter