On the 30th Anniversary of FMLA, Workers Deserve More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3rd, 2023

CONTACT:

Jackie Smith  | 989-576-1996  jsmith@poderlatinx.org 

On the 30th Anniversary of FMLA, Workers Deserve More

NATIONWIDE - This Sunday, Poder Latinx will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993. The FMLA was initially created as a compromise to create a program that protected jobs and health insurance while individuals took care of themselves during a personal illness, cared for a new child, or cared for a seriously ill family member. Over the past 30 years, there has been a growing need and support from both party lines for paid leave. FMLA currently provides only 56% of the workforce with access to unpaid leave, a “benefit” that most workers cannot afford.

Poder Latinx has released the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act:

“The FMLA was a groundbreaking program for its time, but that was three decades ago, and times have changed. Earlier this week, President Biden gave remarks outlining steps to improve access to and awareness of family and medical leave.. It’s time to move beyond FMLA and create a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program that workers across all industries can benefit from. The president’s remarks leave us hopeful that the administration will continue pushing for federal improvements to paid leave, but President Biden cannot do this alone. We are calling on Congress to make paid leave a reality for all workers in 2023,” said Yadira Sanchez, Executive Director of Poder Latinx.

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Poder Latinx is dedicated to building a sustained progressive voting bloc of Latinx voters in battleground states across the country.