New Poll Shows Strong Support For Paid Family Leave Programs

[liberalnarb]

Source: Associated Press : Top News

CHICAGO (AP) -- Time off from work to care for a child or relative is codified in federal law. Now, an overwhelming majority of Americans 40 and older want that time away from the job to be paid.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Friday said 72 percent support paid family leave. Democrats were more likely to back it, but Republicans also expressed strong support. Overall, support was stronger among people age 40-64 and among women.

At least 19 states are considering paid family leave laws, but only three have active programs. New York, the latest to approve it, will launch its program in 2018.

"There is a lot of interest and a lot of momentum," said Ellen Bravo, executive director of Family Values @ Work, an advocacy group. "We hope that over the next five years a critical mass of states will win these policies."

Bravo said the state wins are paving the way for a federal law.

Read more: http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AP_POLL_FAMILY_LEAVE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-05-20-03-44-10

[AllyCat]

1. you don't say.

Imagine what this would do for our quality of life and the ultimate changing of the economy to work for US and not the oligarchs.

[socialist_n_TN]

2. It doesn't matter..........

This is just another in a LOOOONG list of programs that the people want, but the capitalists don't. So it won't happen. One of the reasons that Bernie has become so popular is because he supports these things that the American people support. But to the political class (the employees of the bourgeoisie), these types of programs are non-starters.

[Helen Borg]

3. Let me guess...

Who would be against it? People who are not in that situations or who don't know anyone in that situation. Not many.

[jmowreader]

4. Is there strong support for the tax increases it'll take to support this?

[FLPanhandle]

5. Our firm just updated the policy for 12 weeks paid leave for both fathers and mothers

Which is great for new parents. Sort of jealous though because back in the day when I was a new father there was no such thing as paternity leave. In fact, new dads were expected back in the office after at most a day or two away.