Why Paid Family Leave Is Still a Luxury in the U.S.

The U.S. is an anomaly among developed nations when it comes to paid family leave. At least 183 countries allow a working mother to take time off to be with a newborn or young child -- and to continue to earn an income while she does so. In at least 79 countries, fathers also benefit. But in the U.S. a patchwork of state and company policies dictate how families effectively provide care. Calls for permanent paid leave are growing, and President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats have put forth ideas.

As of March 2020, 20% of private sector workers had the benefit through their employers, according to U.S. Labor Department data. Some critics argue that this figure understates the benefits available to many American workers, particularly the ability to use sick leave, vacation days or short-term disability leave to care for a new baby. Generally, paid family leave benefits are more common among full-time employees and workers in larger companies and in high-paying occupations, such as those in the technology and financial sectors, according to findings by advocacy group Paid Leave for the United States, which catalogs policies at major U.S. companies. Low-income workers, particularly women and people of color, are disproportionately affected and have little or no access to paid time off.