COLUMBUS – When it comes to providing workplace policies that support children and families, Ohio ranks near the bottom among the 50 states, dropping the ball on paid leave and sick days.
The National Partnership for Women and Families gave Ohio a “D” in a recent survey because the state has no requirements beyond the federal policies that guarantee job protection or leave for new or expecting parents in the private workforce.
“Here in Ohio where we’ve got some pretty tough outcomes for children, high infant mortality, high levels of child poverty, it just makes a lot of sense to put in place some common sense things that enable people to keep working so that they can raise their kids right and fulfill their obligation to their employer,” Amy Hanauer of the liberal-leaning group Policy Matters Ohio.
Sarah Fleisch Fink, with the National Partnership for Women and Families, says paid leave policies are common in many other countries and could make a huge difference for working families.
“We know that new children coming into the world thrive when parents can take time off after the birth or adoption of that child to bond and to provide the important care that kids need for women to get important prenatal and postnatal care that they need; for fathers to be able to bond and spend time with new children,” she said.
The report also notes access to paid leave makes new parents more likely to remain in the workforce, contributing to the tax base.
In addition to Ohio, 14 states earned a “D,” while 11 received an “F.” California is the only state that earned an “A.”