Overview

Research shows that paid family and medical leave can improve job stability, financial security, child development, and parental health. The United States does not currently have a national paid leave policy, but 13 states and Washington, DC, have passed laws requiring employers to provide paid time off when workers need to care for themselves or their families. These states generally require both employees and employers to contribute each pay period towards a social insurance program. As a result of these contributions, workers can earn a paycheck and keep their jobs while taking time they need to give birth, bond with a new child, or care for a serious health condition. But passing legislation is only the first step. Many eligible individuals are unable to receive the leave they have paid into due to complex applications and employer-employee dynamics. MDRC’s Advancing Access to Paid Leave initiative was created to help states better support families.

MDRC has engaged all states with mandatory paid leave programs plus dozens of national and local stakeholders. This work has uncovered four common barriers that prevent workers from obtaining paid leave:

1. Low awareness
2. Complex application processes
3. Fear of job loss
4. Employer confusion about requirements.

With the right tools and strategies, these are solvable challenges. MDRC is focusing on three priorities: strengthening state programs, fostering peer learning, and deepening employer engagement.

As one of the first organizations to apply behavioral science to paid leave programs, MDRC aims to translate policy intentions into impact, making paid leave a benefit that families can use more easily. This initiative will also contribute to the broader field of paid-leave research while offering insights that align with complementary programs such as the federal Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program, the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, while helping to build a comprehensive understanding of how paid leave can support families.