What Paid Leave Would Mean for American Families

Rising Up With Sonali · Nov 5, 2026

FEATURING DAWN HUCKELBRIDGE - The United States is one of the only nations in the world without a federally guaranteed paid family and medical leave. As Americans continue to struggle with stagnant wages and the rising costs of gas, food, housing, healthcare, and childcare, when emergencies arise many find themselves in an impossible situation: take unpaid leave to care for loved ones and risk falling into deep debt, or walk away from paid jobs altogether. 

While there has been a state-level movement to offer guaranteed paid family and medical leave, only about a dozen states have…