Paid family and medical leave allows employees to take job-protected leave from their employer to take care of their own serious illness and receive a portion of their wages.
Key Facts:
- According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition and are in need of time off to treat their serious health condition.
- 80% of patients and survivors who have used paid medical leave said it helped them complete and afford treatment, while 70% said it helped them manage symptoms.
- Paid sick days, a separate but related policy to paid leave, give employees the opportunity to recover from short-term illnesses or health issues, but are not enough to recover from long-term injuries or illnesses, such as cancer or an episodic chronic illness.
- Specifically, MS is normally diagnosed between the prime working ages of 20-50 years old, resulting in expenses worth $70,000 annually.
