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New BPC Poll Shows Paid Family Leave Policies Could Grow, Strengthen U.S. Workforce

Washington, DC—Today, in advance of its panel event this afternoon, Women in the Workforce: Supporting Work and Caregiving During the Pandemic and Beyond, the Bipartisan Policy Center released a new BPC-Morning Consult poll that shows that paid family leave (PFL) can grow and strengthen the workforce. The poll’s key findings include:

  • Of those who stopped working during the pandemic, 15%—or over 10 million workers—cited caregiving as a reason
  • 71% of parents with children under 2 say that caregiving impacted their ability to work
  • Caregiving responsibilities disproportionately affected work among Black and Hispanic adults
  • Most workers still lack access to PFL benefits
  • PFL benefits are helping workers stay in their jobs, and would help many people return to work or work more—growing and strengthening the workforce

In response to the poll’s findings, BPC Fellow Adrienne Schweer, who leads BPC’s Paid Family Leave Project, stated, “This is further evidence of the challenges workers face balancing caregiving and work—a challenge that will not disappear after the pandemic; but a national paid family leave program that is bipartisan and built to last can go a long way in strengthening the workforce, families, and the economy that relies on them.”

Ben Gitis, senior policy analyst for BPC’s Economic Policy Project said about the poll findings, “These results show that since the onset of COVID-19, many workers have had no choice but to cut back their work hours or leave their job all together. Meanwhile, paid family leave has helped many continue to work and could have helped more. With an economy searching for a durable workforce, the data suggest that paid family leave can play a critical role in getting people back to work.”

An overview BPC blog post on the poll can be read here.

A BPC fact sheet on the poll can be read here.

A BPC infographic on the poll can be viewed here.

Adrienne Schweer and Ben Gitis are available for interview.

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