MEDIA ADVISORY: Rutgers Study: Paid Family Leave Leads to Positive Economic Outcomes for Working Families, Businesses

WHO: The call will feature the study’s authors and experts on paid leave: Linda Houser, affiliate fellow, CWW and assistant professor at Widener University; Thomas P. Vartanian, professor at Bryn Mawr College; Karen White, director, Working Families Program, CWW; and Vicki Shabo, director of work and family programs, National Partnership.

WHEN: Thursday, Jan 19 at 1 p.m.

TO JOIN: To request an embargoed copy of the report on Wednesday, Jan. 18, to get dial-in information to join the call, or to request interviews with experts if you cannot make the call, contact Steve Manas, Rutgers Office of Media Relations, 732-932-7084, ext. 612, or Sadie Kliner, National Partnership for Women & Families, 202-986-2600.

BACKGROUND: With a growing need for family-friendly workplace policies, a new study commissioned by the National Partnership for Women & Families with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation finds that providing paid family leave to workers leads to positive economic outcomes for working families, businesses and the public. Rutgers’ Center for Women and Work conducted the study, which looks at how taking paid family leave affects workers’ labor force participation, wages, and use of public assistance and food stamps. Among the conclusions:

• Women who reported taking paid leave are more likely to be working nine to 12 months after a child’s birth than those who report taking no leave at all 
•  Paid family leave increases wages for women with children.