Building an economy that works. For everyone.
Family security promotes economic prosperity
Whether caring for their children, an elderly parent, partner or themselves, all workers occasionally need access to paid time off to look after their own health and that of their loved ones.
Yet about 40% of American workers in private firms receive no paid sick days - over 1 million in Washington state. One-fourth of workers get no vacation, and 92% get no paid family leave.
In today’s economy, all workers need access to paid sick days for minor illnesses and routine health care needs, and family and medical leave insurance for the handful of times when they need extended time away from work to care for a new baby, a seriously ill family member, or their own critical illness.
We can modernize workplace policies. On September 23, 2011, thanks to the efforts of the EOI-led Seattle Coalition for a Healthy Workforce, the City of Seattle joined San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut in establishing minimum standards for paid sick leave. Active campaigns are underway in other cities and states as well.
Ensuring all workers have access to paid leave will pay dividends by giving children a healthy start in life, protecting family economic security, promoting individual health and business productivity, and improving public health and safety.
Learn more from the Washington
Work and Family Coalition and Seattle
Coalition for a Healthy Workforce websites.
Featured Publications
Evaluating Paid Sick Leave: Social, Economic and Health Implications for Washington
05.15.2013 | In today’s economy, many families and businesses are struggling to stay afloat. Paid sick leave standards are an important policy tool to help restore economic security for working families, while protecting public health, improving business productivity, supporting families caring for elders, and boosting children’s success in school.
Family and Medical Leave Insurance: How WA’s workers can protect themselves and their families from economic catastrophe
04.26.2013 | Most of the American workforce has only a few days or weeks of paid leave available – and many workers have none at all – leaving families unprotected and businesses vulnerable. Low-income and part-time workers are less likely to receive any type of workplace benefit without legal protection, and many don’t get a single paid day off.
Family and Medical Leave Insurance for Washington State
UPDATED
01.14.2013 | There are a handful of times during one’s
career when it will be necessary to take significant time away
from work for health or family needs: to welcome a new child, recover
from surgery, care for a spouse with cancer, or tend to aging parents.
Paid family and medical leave not only enables workers to take
time to address care needs, but provides benefits to families,
business owners, and communities.
Choose a policy focus
Policy Success
Paid sick days
In
2010, EOI brought together a broad coalition to form the Seattle Coalition
for a Healthy Workforce. Policy
success »
Family Leave
EOI
has worked to bring together diverse groups of organizations to update
workplace standards, and meet the needs of today’s families and businesses. Policy
success »
Policy Impact
Selena Allen's doctor said her son Connor was due in May, but he arrived unexpectedly in early April, and faced serious medical issues.Read Selena's story »
Work and Family: News and Opinion
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