More than 350 businesses worth over $757 billion declare their support for national paid family and medical leave despite stalled federal legislation

More than 350 businesses worth over $757 billion declare their support for national paid family and medical leave despite stalled federal legislation

April 27 2022

Twitter, AirBnB, Reddit, DoorDash, Dove Men + Care, Chobani, Keen, theSkimm, others join the renewed business community call for a federal paid leave program

Washington, D.C. —Today, with the help of Paid Leave for the United States (PL+US), more than 350 businesses from across the United States doubled-down on their support for the creation of a national paid family and medical leave program.

The renewed push comes, despite stalled progress towards passing the paid leave proposal in the Build Back Better Act, as businesses grapple with a pandemic-fueled labor shortage, the reluctance of hundreds of thousands of U.S. women to return to the workforce at pre-pandemic levels, and a national conversation about the future of work in the country.

The fight for paid leave reached a historic highwater mark when the paid leave proposal in the Build Back Better Act passed the U.S. House in November 2021.  While momentum to pass the Build Back Better Act has been stalled in the U.S. Senate, this clear display of business community support demonstrates the private sector's ongoing commitment to passing a federal paid leave policy.

The new businesses announcing their support for a national paid leave program as a part of this effort include AirBnB, Chobani, DoorDash, Dove Men+Care, Keen, Reddit, Twitter, and theSkimm.  Joining hundreds of companies like Spotify, Pinterest, Levi’s Patagonia, Etsy, Salesforce, Room & Board, and others that supported passage of federal paid leave in the Build Back Better Act, this collection of businesses supporting federal paid leave span a wide range of sizes, geographies, and sectors and are worth a combined $757 billion.  

As a part of their declaration of support for paid leave, the businesses collectively affirmed five core principles:

1. Paid leave is a fundamental element of addressing racial, class, and gender inequalities.

2. Paid leave leads to better talent attraction, employee retention, and improved employee morale, contributing to greater business stability and viability.

3. A federal paid leave program should be inclusive and protect all workers equally, regardless of what kind of work they do, where they live, or whom they love.

4. A federal paid leave program should be comprehensive and support working people when they welcome a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or care for one’s own serious illness. 

5. Everyone should be able to be there for their families in the moments that matter most. When families thrive, we all thrive.

A full list of the businesses declaring their support for paid leave  is available here:

https://paidleave.us/businesses-support-paid-leave 

“This reaffirmation of support for national paid family and medical leave from hundreds of businesses, large and small, from across the country makes it plain that the business community is committed to the fight for paid leave for the long haul,” said Orli Cotel, PL+US Senior Advisor. “Businesses and their leaders intimately understand how paid leave will strengthen their companies, working families, and our national economy., The businesses making this declaration today are making it clear that they’re committed to helping deliver paid leave for all working people in our country.”

“The most important job every parent has is taking care of their children. At Chobani, we have always put family first and are proud to have helped inspire more employers to offer full paid parental leave. Isn’t it time our nation’s leaders step up to ensure every parent in America has the time, ability and means to bond with and care for their child?” Mark Broadhurst, Vice President of Impact & Advocacy of Chobani, said.

"American workers shouldn’t have to choose between the job they want and the family they love.  A strong investment in paid leave and child care would make the U.S. more competitive and would help rebuild a more inclusive and equitable economy," said Jenna Johnson, President of Patagonia, Inc.