Paid Family and Sick Leave in the U.S. Published: Sep 25, 2026

https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/paid-family-and-sick-leave-in-the-u-s/ Paid family and medical leave and sick leave can help workers meet their personal and family health care needs, while also fulfilling work responsibilities. Access to paid leave is a particularly salient concern for women, who comprise nearly half of the nation’s workforce and often take on the bulk of caregiving responsibilities. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires eligible employers to provide certain workers unpaid family leave; however, unlike nearly all other industrialized nations, the U.S. does not have a national requirement for paid family or sick leave, resulting in a patchwork of policies determined by state and local laws, employers, and/or labor contracts. While many have been advocating a national standard for paid leave for decades, there has been relatively little federal action.