What Is Paid Family Medical Leave?
Despite being wildly popular, most workers in Louisiana do not currently have access to paid leave. A
state-run program to pay employees when out of work for the below conditions and guarantee their job
when returning from leave would dramatically improve the health and well-being of Louisiana families.
• care for your own medical conditions;
• Immediate family medical needs;
• introduction of a child into a family;
• and care for others outside of legal or biological ties.
Why is Paid Family Medical Leave Important?
Paid family and medical leave policies create more equitable access to health for our communities.
Workers earning the least amount of money are the ones who are also least likely to earn any paid sick
time off to care for themselves or their loved ones, according to data published by the Louisiana Budget
Project. When working people lack time access to paid family and medical leave, they experience worse
health outcomes and need more complex (and often more expensive) treatment over time. These
impacts are especially severe for people of color, who disproportionately lack access to paid family and
medical leave, compounding longstanding inequities in income, wealth, and access to quality, affordable
health care, as well as heightened exposure to adverse social determinants of health.1
How Will Paid Leave Work in Louisiana?
A state-run paid family medical leave program, like programs implemented in 12 other states including
Colorado, Rhode Island, New York, and California, would be funded through a small payroll contribution
split between employer & employee, roughly a quarter for each $100 earned (.46% of payroll).
The benefit would then be paid to employees taking leave for the above documented reasons with a
progressive wage replacement rate. Meaning, those who earn the least get the highest percentage of
their wage replaced while on leave. This ensures that those who are living paycheck to paycheck will be
able to continue to pay their bills while taking care of themselves or their loved ones.
Educational Breakfasts
Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is hosting nine educational breakfast sessions for legislators in
each region of the state to provide information on the benefits of a comprehensive paid family and
medical leave program. All 36 state senators and 105 state representatives will be invited to attend one
of nine educational breakfast sessions hosted by LPHI across the state. Additional participants will
include partner organizations, local business supporters, and district constituents. During these
educational sessions legislators will hear the benefits to workers, business, and industry when paid
family and medical leave policies are implemented.
About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI)
LPHI is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit public health institute that has proudly served the residents of
Louisiana for over 25 years. As the public health landscape shifts and changes at an ever-quickening
pace, LPHI’s role is to be both responsive to the immediate public health needs of Louisiana residents
and to create an environment for long-term public health improvements. LPHI has four priority areas as
part of the organization’s strategic plan, including Racial Justice and Health Equity, Partnerships and
Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization, and aims to help all Louisianans
achieve their full potential for health and wellness. For more information, visit www.lphi.org.
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