State elected officials, labor leaders, community advocates, parents and caregivers share research on the nation’s first paid family leave program and highlight the need for increased awareness among low-income, hourly and latino workers.

State elected officials, labor leaders, community advocates, parents and caregivers join together to celebrate the nation’s first Paid Family Leave program.

Along with the rise in low-wage work, business practices have changed, and unpredictable, unstable schedules are on the rise for hourly low-wage workers across the country.

While the need for Paid Family Leave is great and the benefits are many, awareness of the law is still low, especially among low income, new immigrant and young workers. This year, Coalition and partner organizations are raising the profile of Paid Family Leave to increase take up in a variety of ways.

In California, we’ve seen the positive impact Paid Family Leave has had on the well-being of families. That’s why I’m proud to be part of a growing state and national movement winning paid family leave and paid sick days for all workers.

San Francisco just became the first municipality in the country to pass a law providing working parents and caregivers the “right to request” flexible or predictable work schedules.

The California Work & Family Coalition, a project of Next Generation, applauds Governor Brown’s signing of SB 770 into law, because it will extend Paid Family Leave benefits to more California families when they need to take time off from work to care for seriously ill loved ones.

SB 770 passed through the Assembly with a final vote of 51-22. The bill allows workers to receive Paid Family Leave benefits while caring for seriously ill grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, and parents-in-law.