Ensuring You Can Take Care of Yourself and Loved Ones

The United States is one of seven (yes, seven) countries that does not have national paid maternity leave. This means that there is no form of guaranteed paid leave at the national level in the US; however, states have begun to take matters into their own hands. Thirteen states, along with the District of Columbia, have established Paid Family and Medical Leave programs to ensure workers can take time away from work to care for themselves or a loved one when they’re welcoming a new child, recovering from illness, or rehabilitating after an injury. 

Virginia has the opportunity to be a leader for families and workers by establishing a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) insurance program. The legislation would ensure that workers could take up to 12 weeks off, provide 80 percent wage replacement for the duration of their leave, and allow employees to maintain their health care coverage while they’re out. This would cover 3.4 million people in Virginia who have no guarantee they won’t miss a critical paycheck when they need to take time away from work. 

The Senate patron of PFML, Senator Jennifer Boysko, said the following about the importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave for Virginia: 

“I’ve been working to pass Paid Family and Medical Leave for almost 8 years because I understand the need to balance work with our personal lives without the crisis of losing a job or income, and my bill provides a reasonable and feasible solution. We are all human and face the possibility of a serious medical illness, either our own or that of a loved one. I would argue that everyone can recall an event where they or a loved one faced a longer-term medical emergency, needed to help care for an aging parent at the end of their life, or welcomed new family members who needed care and time to bond. We should have a reliable plan to allow Virginians to manage these important issues and for businesses to plan for them.  Every other industrialized country in the world has a formal paid family and medical leave policy, understanding that there are times in our lives when we need time to step away from work and take care of ourselves and others. But unfortunately, less than half of workers in Virginia can take this time without risking a financial crisis and even the loss of their job. I know that we can do better - when we treat people with respect, they return to work stronger, loyal and more productive.”

The House of Delegates patron of PFML, Delegate Briana Sewell, has been quoted as saying the following:

“I helped establish the Virginia Campaign for a Family-Friendly Economy, which has done tremendous work to lay the groundwork for passing Paid Family and Medical Leave in our commonwealth. Teachers in Prince William have a small amount of paid parental leave, but we need to do more. This legislation expands protections and supports hardworking Virginia families where they need it most, giving workers peace of mind by ensuring their job will be protected while they’re on leave and they will maintain access to their health coverage. [...] The United States does not have a federal law that guarantees Paid Family and Medical Leave, making us one of only eight countries worldwide that do not guarantee access to paid leave. This legislation is a step forward for Virginia that would make our economy more globally competitive, productive, healthier, and more resilient. [...] Virginia has the opportunity to be a leader in ensuring everyone has access to paid leave when they need it most.” 

While the landmark legislation passed both chambers of the General Assembly during the 2025 session, it was vetoed by Governor Youngkin. Now more than ever, Virginians need stability and establishing a Paid Family and Medical Leave program would prevent workers from losing a critical paycheck in order to care for themselves or their loved ones.