This week, Cuyahoga County Council made news by voting unanimously to give employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave. This aligns with similar leave policies for Stark County and State employees. However, most Ohioans’ family leave options are similar to those of Tuscarawas County employees: 12 weeks of unpaid leave under federal FMLA law and many advocates argue this needs to change.
The Right Thing to Do
WOIO Cleveland reports that after expanding paid family leave from 2 paid weeks to 12, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “The expansion of the Paid Parental Leave benefit is yet another step toward continuing to make the County a healthier, happier, and more inclusive place to work.”
Cuyahoga County Director of Human Resources, Sarah A. Nemastil believes this was the “right thing to do” because, “Employees should be afforded time to bond with their new babies. Furthermore, this expansion promotes equality and opportunity within our workforce.”
Voters Agree on Paid Parental Leave
These views reflect those of a growing number of Americans. Politico reports that eighty-five percent of voters in battleground states favor paid parental, family and medical leave. That breaks down to 96 percent of Democrats, 82 percent of independents and 76 percent of Republicans. Ninety-six percent of young voters of color favored it, as did 84 percent of suburban women.
Economists Agree with Voters
Economists agree with voters about the value of paid family leave. An article in Forbes notes that ever since many U.S. states began to implement paid family leave policies, studies have shown how it has benefited families and children, in particular.
The economic benefits include:
- Employee Retention and Satisfaction
- Reduced Turnover Costs
- Competitive Edge
- Employee Engagement, Particularly Women
Despite the established benefits, the Ohio Capital Journal reports that most Ohioans still lack access
The National Partnership for Women & Families said 73% of people working in the U.S. don’t have paid leave through their employers, and federal unpaid leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act is almost as inaccessible.
Ohio’s workers see slightly lower rates of access with 76%, or more than 4.4 million Ohioans, working jobs without the possibility of paid family leave. Even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act is inaccessible for 60% of Ohioans, the study said.
This lack of access has a significant negative impact on both families and the economy, amounting to a $3.9 billion shortfall in earned wages for Ohio’s workers.
Legislation in Ohio has been introduced over the years, but hasn’t seen enough bipartisan support in the GOP supermajority general assemblies to pass into law. Federal legislation has also been blocked by Republican lawmakers in both houses of Congress.