Family caregivers rely on the public safety net during their most consequential life events – giving birth to a baby, caring for a disabled family member, providing childcare during natural disasters, or supporting an elderly parent with a serious illness. When these needs arise, no one should be forced to choose between taking care of their family and putting food on the table. Equitable access to paid family leave, disability insurance, and unemployment insurance ensures that all workers are able to take care of their families without falling into poverty.
Access to paid leave promotes economic security, health, and continued employment—but paid leave programs can be hard to access. Many workers aren’t aware that they’re eligible for paid family or medical leave. And when workers are informed and try to apply, they are often faced with overly-complex and burdensome application processes, forms and instructions in languages they can’t read, and requirements to have a computer or spend money on multiple doctors’ appointments. These and other barriers disadvantage those who lack the resources, time, and knowledge to navigate the system. The result is that all working people contribute money to build the safety net, but low-wage workers, BIPOC families, and immigrants are the least likely to receive the benefits they paid for when they need them.
Promoting Equitable Access to Benefits for Family Caregivers
We are fighting to ensure all working caregivers are able access the benefits they have earned and need for their family’s health and economic security.
- WorkLife Law educates communities, healthcare providers, and advocates about paid leave protections and assists workers around the country to access their rights through our free legal helpline.
- Our model legislation and guidance help states ensure that family caregivers are not discriminated against for taking the time they need for caregiving.
- WorkLife Law is a proud leader in the California Work and Family Coalition, which fights for equitable paid leave policies, sick days, and other policies that build family-friendly workplaces. In turn, we rely on California’s model to inform advocacy efforts elsewhere.
- WorkLife Law is advocating with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to ensure low-wage workers and immigrants have equitable access to Paid Family Leave and State Disability Insurance (SDI).
- We support caregivers and pregnant people to access workplace benefits in the wake of disasters. From our guide for workers impacted by the LA wildfires to our national COVID-19 worker helpline, we have helped thousands of families get paid leave, unemployment insurance, and similar benefits.
