One day, we walked out for lunch and never walked back in. 🍔 Well, we *did* tell the boss man that we were on leave. Was that a lie? 🤷🏻♂️
OK so that didn’t happen. Abandon a paycheck in this economy? That’s crazier than Britney Spears in 2007. 🎪 But speaking of leave, let’s get into some surprising stats on how a lack of paid family leave impacts Ohio’s economy.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on paid family leave in Ohio:
- 💸 I’m Leavin’ - According to a recent study, roughly 72% of Ohioans work at jobs without paid family leave benefits. That’s an estimated 4.5 million workers. The study revealed that a lack of paid leave has a negative impact on the state’s economy.
- 💼 Under the Covers - Today, there’s only one national law that covers leave: the Family and Medical Leave Act which came to be around 30 years ago. However, the act doesn’t guarantee pay and a large number of people aren’t eligible. The act covers people depending on the amount of time they’ve worked at their job and how many hours they’re given. The study found that 60% of Ohioans don’t qualify.
- 👨👩👧👦 Family Matters - Under the Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible workers get up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave (basically job protection) in a 12-month period. The act covers those working in public agencies (state, local or federal), local education agencies, and private businesses with at least 50 employees. Those employees also have to have worked at least 20 weeks in the current or previous year.
- 🗓️ Falling Short - In many other countries, women are offered an average of 29 weeks of *paid* maternity leave. The U.S. is one of six countries without mandatory paid maternity leave. According to the study, Ohio workers lost almost $2 billion in pay while on maternity leave, dealing with a long-term illness, or caring for a family member.
- 🧐 Change On the Way? - Last November, Ohio Republicans introduced the Paid Parental Leave Act. The act would establish an income tax credit for employers who provide paid parental leave for new parents or legal guardians of newborn babies. However, there hasn’t been any progress since.
🔥Bottom line: Paid leave allows people to take time off to care for loved ones without worrying about lost wages. Will the nation get with the program and throw workers a much needed bone? We’ll believe it when we see it. No wonder Gen-Z hates the concept of work. Find out more about why Zoomers are sticking it to the man in this article.
Does your job offer paid leave?
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