Article Summary –
Josie Badger, co-chair of Pennsylvania’s Family Care Coalition, is advocating for paid family and medical leave legislation for the approximately one in four adults in Pennsylvania living with disabilities. Legislation is currently being considered to create a universal paid family and medical leave program for full- and part-time workers to care for newborns, sick spouses or children, ailing parents, or their own medical needs. Currently, not all workers in Pennsylvania have access to paid family and medical leave, an issue that disproportionately affects those with disabilities who tend to be employed in part-time, low-wage work that does not offer paid time off.
Push for Paid Family & Medical Leave in Pennsylvania
Living with congenital myasthenic syndrome, a condition characterised by weakened muscles, disability rights advocate Josie Badger understands the challenges families face when not entitled to paid family and medical leave. Badger is now fighting for transformative change, leading the Pennsylvania’s Family Care Coalition’s campaign for paid leave legislation for Pennsylvania’s 1 in 4 adults with disabilities. Source
State lawmakers are reviewing legislation that would establish a universal paid family and medical leave scheme, allowing workers to apply for paid leave to cater to their own medical needs, care for ill family members, or look after a new baby. The sponsors of this legislation, Democratic Rep. Dan Miller and Democratic Sen. Maria Collett, are advocating for a vote on these bills this legislative session. Source
Supporters of the legislation argue that it is integral to the lives of employees with disabilities and their families. House Bill 181, initiated by Miller, has already passed committee stage and is under consideration by the full House. Its companion Senate bill, sponsored by Collett and Republican Sen. Devlin Robinson, was introduced recently and is under review by the chamber’s Labor and Industry Committee. Source
Currently, not all Pennsylvanian workers have access to paid family and medical leave. While some employers offer it and the state has expanded its paid parental leave program for commonwealth employees, there’s no universal requirement. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 only guarantees unpaid leave to eligible workers. Source
Advocates warn that the lack of paid leave can be particularly detrimental for people with disabilities. About half of Pennsylvanians with disabilities struggle to afford basic needs, meaning unpaid leave can lead to financial ruin. Source
Often, people with disabilities have limited access to paid leave, as they are disproportionately represented in part-time and low-wage jobs. Source Jennifer Garman from Disability Rights Pennsylvania argues that an inability to take paid leave can exacerbate health disparities and negatively impact mental health.
As Pennsylvania’s population ages, the need for such a program grows. Over a quarter of Pennsylvania’s workers are 55 and older, a number set to rise. Source
With the rise of long-term health conditions like long COVID, the demand for supportive measures like paid leave is on the rise. This would not only benefit those with disabilities but all Pennsylvanians, Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, highlighted.
—
Read More Pennsylvania News
