A Timeline of Paid Leave Legislation

1919

Maternity Protection Convention of 1919

On November 29, 1919, the newly formed International Labor Organization introduced the Maternity Protection Convention, advocating for 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, free medical care during and after pregnancy, job security upon return, and designated breaks for nursing. Every developed nation has adopted or exceeded these standards, except the United States (The New York Times, 2019). 

 

1942-1949

Introduction of Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) Programs

Rhode Island (1942), California (1946), New Jersey (1948), and New York (1949): These states established TDI programs to provide income support to workers with temporary disabilities, including pregnancy and childbirth-related conditions (Social Security Administration, 2015). 

 

1961-1965

In the early 1960s, only 14% of all first-time mothers were working by six months postpartum (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). 

 

1978

Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)

The PDA prohibited employment discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, ensuring that pregnant women received the same benefits as other employees with temporary disabilities (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1997). 

 

1993

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law by President Clinton in 1993. It provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons, including childbirth, adoption, and caring for a family member with a serious illness (Sholar, 2020). 

 

2015

President Obama, State of the Union Address

"Today, we are the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers.  Forty-three million workers have no paid sick leave -- 43 million.  Think about that.  And that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home.  So I’ll be taking new action to help states adopt paid leave laws of their own" (The White House, 2015).

 

2002-2016

State-Level Paid Family Leave Programs 

From 2002 to 2016, California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York implemented state-level paid family leave programs, offering varying durations of leave for family caregiving and bonding with a new child (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.).

 

2019

President Trump, White House Summit

"With more women working today than ever before, we now have a historic opportunity to enact long-overdue reforms.  It’s time to pass Paid Family Leave and expand access to quality... An estimated one out of every four American moms returns to work within two weeks of giving birth because they cannot afford to miss a paycheck or risk losing their job.  We want every mother to have the chance to spend those precious few weeks with her newborn or adopted child" (The White House, 2019).

 

2020

Paid Parental Leave for Federal Employees

Paid leave for federal workers was approved through the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), which was signed into law by President Trump and took effect on October 1, 2020. This legislation provides up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible federal employees following the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child (U.S. Customs and Border Protection, n.d.).

 

2023

President Biden, 30th Anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act

"It gets down to basic dignity.  It’s about being a country where women and all people can both work and raise a family... 94 percent of our lowest-wage workers — mostly women and workers of color — have no paid family leave at all — 94 percent.  Meaning you can only take time to care for your loved one if you can afford to give up your salary" (The White House, 2023). 

Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act reintroduced in Congress

On May 17, 2023, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Rosa DeLauro reintroduced the FAMILY Act to establish a permanent, nationwide paid family and medical leave program for all workers (Child Welfare League of America, 2023). 

     

    2025

    Where We Stand 

    Federal Landscape: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) remains the only federal law providing eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons (U.S. Department of Labor, n.d.). 

    State Initiatives: In the absence of federal paid leave mandates, several states have implemented their own programs. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted mandatory paid family leave systems (California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and the District of Columbia). Voluntary paid family leave systems have been established in an additional ten states, providing paid family leave through private insurance options (Donovan, 2025).

     

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