Policy & Advocacy
Backgrounder on Paid Family Leave, February 2019
Backgrounder on Paid Family Leave, February 2019
Since the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993, eligible U.S. employees are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious personal or family health reasons, childbirth, adoption, or foster care. There is no federal requirement for paid family and medical leave.
USCCB position and history
- The U.S. bishops long supported family leave as a moral and social priority, urging protections so workers need not lose jobs when facing major family responsibilities.
- They backed the Healthy Families Act (2005) for paid sick leave (seven days/year), which did not pass, and supported a tax incentive for employers offering paid leave included in the 2017 tax reform.
- The USCCB is actively studying paid‑leave proposals with Catholic Charities USA to assess potential effects on Catholic institutions and communities.
Access and current coverage
- Paid family leave coverage is limited: about 14% of workers have access to paid family leave versus 88% who have access to unpaid family leave.
- Public support for paid leave is high (about 82%), but opinion is split between a federal mandate and employer choice.
- Only a few states (California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York) and some localities have active paid‑leave programs; Washington State and D.C. have laws awaiting implementation.
- The United States is the only OECD country that does not guarantee paid family leave.
Recent federal proposals
- Strong Families Act (S. 344): tax credits for employers who provide full wage replacement during leave.
- FAMILY Act (S. 337): a social‑insurance style benefit replacing 66% of wages (capped) funded by small payroll contributions.
- Presidential budget proposal: six weeks of leave financed via Unemployment Insurance.
- AEI‑Brookings proposal: six weeks at 70% wage replacement (capped), payroll‑funded and budget‑neutral.
Current stance and outlook
- The USCCB has not taken a formal position on federal paid‑leave legislation.
- New proposals are expected but face uncertain prospects in a divided Congress.
- The USCCB’s ongoing engagement aims to understand how different policy designs would affect Catholic ministries, workers, and local communities.