The United States Department of Labor’s (DOL) Women’s Bureau, in partnership with DOL’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is excited to announce a forthcoming opportunity for states to participate in a new Paid Leave Analysis Grant Program.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

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of 1993 guarantees job-protected leave, but not paid leave, for men and women to care for their newborn or adopted children, seriously ill family members or for their own health needs.

Unfortunately, many workers today are unable to take the time off they need to care for their families or themselves because they simply can’t afford to do so.

In recent years, a few states have implemented their own paid leave programs to ensure workers have the economic security to meet their families’ needs and to benefit employers, particularly small businesses who otherwise could not afford to provide such programs.

Paid family and medical leave programs enhance job retention and help workers stay on career paths, which benefit both workers and businesses, and ultimately the economic health of your state.

It is important that we learn from the experiences of states that have implemented such programs and support research and analysis to inform the development of new programs in additional states.

For this reason, DOL is planning to make available a total of $500,000 for up to five one-time competitive grants to fund paid leave feasibility studies to support the development or implementation of paid family and medical leave programs at the state level.