A recent study by Drexel University’s Dornsife School of Public Health, entitled Making the Case for Paid Family Leave, sought to analyze the impact of paid leave programs on health, children, parents, and businesses. The report found that “offering paid leave creates positive workplace culture and supports retention and productivity by allowing family members to take the time necessary for their physical and mental health while receiving a paycheck.”

Our experience in Connecticut since the inception of the program is that people want paid leave and, in fact, over 180,000 Connecticut workers have used it to start a family or care for themselves or a sick loved one since the program began paying benefits in January 2022.

The Drexel team conducted a robust literature review, combing through all the scientific studies and evaluations from across different fields. They looked at economics and public health across the United States, especially looking at the states that have implemented mandatory programs. The study reviewed what happens when people have access to paid family leave and what happens when they don’t have access to paid family leave, instead of just relying on the anecdotes or assumptions.

The research made it “noticeably clear that families and communities are positively affected by access to paid family leave, especially those in lower wage jobs who would not be able to afford unpaid leave otherwise.” The study found that having the ability to take any leave after the birth of a child is shown to improve child health, that paid family leave policies showed improved mental health and academic outcomes for children, and that paid parental leave positively impacts maternal health by allowing time to physically recover from childbirth and is associated with greater well-being during the transition to parenthood for both parents. The report further found that access to paid family leave would positively support family financial health by allowing families to take time off without lost income. Finally, many businesses have noted that offering paid family leave encourages workers to stay more attached to their jobs and be more likely to return after leave and has had no effect on profitability. The reduction in turnover of staff due to paid family leave can reduce recruitment, hiring, and training costs.

“The big takeaway is that paid leave is not just a perk or a benefit, it needs to be part of our basic infrastructure,” said Natalie Shaak, Associate Director of Communications and Administration at the Center for Hunger Free communities at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University. “Paid leave is an essential part of building healthier families, stronger communities, and a more resilient economy.”

This article was written by Jessica Vargas, Chief Experience Officer at CT Paid Leave.