Why do we need to expand availability of family and medical leave in Washington?

•  With the aging population, many workers have responsibility for frail elders.
• 35% of workers, men and women alike, provided regular care for a parent or inlaw over 65 in 2002.
• Over the next 10 years, 1 in 10 Americans will need to take time off work to care for an elderly family member.
• A majority of parents are employed.
• In 78% of today’s families both parents work.
• Both parents work in 52.7% of married-couple families with children under 6.
• In single parent families with children under age of 6, 63.8% of mothers and 83.9% of fathers work.

Why Do People Take Family and Medical Leave?

• 52% of people take leave to care for their own serious illness.
• 31% of people take lave to care for a seriously ill family member.
• 18% of people take leave to care for a new child.

Who Takes Family and Medical Leave?

• 42% of leave-takers are men.>
• 58% are women.
• 16.5% of workers took leave under FMLA in 12 month period.

For How Long Do People Take Family and Medical Leave?

• 50% of workers take family and medical leave for 10 days or less.
• 27% of leave taken intermittently.
• 9.2% take for full 12 weeks.

How Many Workers Are Protected by the FMLA?

• About 60% of workers are protected by the FMLA.