Working People Need Access to Paid Leave

Authors: Emily Andrews, Sapna Mehta, and Jessica Milli

Note: This article was published on September 25, 2024 by The Center for Law and Social Policy.

Utilizing data from the Worker Paid Leave Usage Simulation Model (Worker PLUS), we estimate the current need for leave in those states that do not have established paid family and medical leave programs; the extent to which the need for leave goes unmet in these states; and the economic losses that families incur as a result of unpaid or partially paid leaves. This report presents our overall findings in these states; we also provide state-level estimates in the Appendix.