Category: Paid Leave

Paid family and medical leave has been in the news this past year. It helps families care for each other whether they are newborns or aging parents. It helps individuals recover from serious illness or injuries. It can also save the lives of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Survivors do not have the option of “scheduling” their trauma, and they often delay leaving an abusive relationship because of economic worries. One of the best predictors of whether a victim will separate from her abuser is economic independence. A 2012 Mary Kay Foundation survey of 700 domestic violence shelters revealed that 74 percent of survivors claimed they stayed with their abuser longer because of financial issues.

Domestic and sexual violence impacts a victim’s ability to keep a job, and abusers often use economic abuse to control their victims. Providing financial support for survivors, who may need to take time to safely leave a violent relationship, or heal, is important.

The Legislature has the opportunity to make paid family and medical leave a reality. Research by the Montana Budget and Policy Center shows that with contributions representing less than half of one percent of wages, we could create an insurance pool so workers would receive part of their wages while on leave.

The Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence is a proud supporter of paid family and medical leave. Beyond helping victims of domestic violence, passing paid family and medical leave is the right thing to do.

Kelsen Young – Executive Director – Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

When my son was born, I didn’t want to leave him. Unfortunately, my job didn’t offer paid parental leave, and our maternity leave was unpaid and very ambiguous. The policy was essentially ‘take the time you need, but come back as soon as possible.’ Since I just started working at my job when I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t have enough saved leave to take much time off after giving birth. After he was born, I tried to work from home and put some hours in at the office. I needed to work when I was so emotionally and physically tired that I couldn’t see straight. My work performance wasn’t what it should be, but I had to make money. It would have been amazing to have the security of two or three months paid leave.

Too many parents have gone through the same situation as me. We want to be home, especially right after our children are born. We needed more time to recover from childbirth, but our families simply can’t afford it. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their kids and taking care of them. My workplace has created our own paid parental leave policy for future parents, so we can take care of our valued employees. It would be great if the Legislature would take the same steps with us, to ensure Montana’s families can support themselves while taking care of a new baby.

Kelly Heaton – Letter to the Editor

For most of my life, I’ve worked at jobs that didn’t offer any paid leave. Since I worked remotely, hours after the births of both of my daughters I did something I should not have had to do – I opened my laptop and got to work. During the first few sleepless months, I chugged espresso and got to work.

One would think women would have the right to some rest after the physical toll that having children takes on your body and the sleepless nights an infant brings after that. Children should have the right to a rested, devoted mother, at least for a little while.

Now I have a job that does offer me paid leave. It is such a relief not having to worry about losing my income or my job if anything serious should happen to my daughters, my husband, or myself. It is amazing how relaxed and happy I am at home after working at a place where I get full benefits including paid time off to care for my family. Paid leave helps me be a better mom, wife, employee, and member of my community.

Unfortunately, there are too many people in our state who don’t have access to the time off they need to take care of their families or themselves. I’m excited about what is happening around the country with paid family and sick leave. I hope during this legislative session, our elected officials pass a paid leave policy in Montana.

Natalie Peeterse – Letter to the Editor