Families need Paid Leave for Back-to-School TAKE ACTION

Dear Friend,

In the era of COVID-19 and the Delta variant, access to paid family leave is more urgent and important than ever before. There isn’t a parent I know who isn’t worried about what happens if or when they get a dreaded notice that there has been a COVID exposure in their child’s school and the students will have to quarantine at home. When that happens, many families with inflexible jobs or lower incomes are having to make impossible choices this school year - stay home with their child who needs them and risk losing their income or even their jobs. [1] 

→ Demand that Congress pass paid family and medical leave this year.

Paid family and medical leave is critical for workers and families. Parents who have access to paid leave can take paid time off to care for a new child and to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities, it benefits children and increases a family’s economic security. Workers, especially educators and essential school support staff who have paid leave are more likely to take time off when they’re feeling unwell without putting other workers or students at risk or compromising their economic security. [2] 

→ One of our most urgent back-to-school supplies is paid family and medical leave. Add your name now and tell Congress that workers and families should not have to make impossible choices, they need paid leave passed in the budget.

It is vital that families have access to a robust and comprehensive paid family and medical leave program this school year. Let’s help working people and families make the best choices when it comes to their children and their loved ones. Access to policies like paid leave were much needed prior to the pandemic and even more so now as we deal with the Delta variant of Covid, cases and hospitalizations for children on the rise and uncertainty about the upcoming school year. [3]  Paid family and medical leave will give families some peace of mind that's so desperately needed this year. 

Thank you for raising your voice!

- Namatie, Ruth, and the whole MomsRising.org/MamásConPoder Team

PS: Personal experiences are powerful and can make a difference in helping elected leaders understand how public policies impact families so they can move change. We want to hear more from YOU! Can you take a second and follow the link below to share your personal story about how having, or NOT having, access to job-protected paid leave has impacted your family in the pandemic? https://action.momsrising.org/survey/Caretaking_Stories

References: 
[1] How do parents feel about their kids returning to school?
[2] The Impact of Paid Leave on School Functioning During Covid-19
[3] ‘This will be a tough year’: Thousands of kids are in COVID-19 quarantine across the US, and school has just begun

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