The U.S. is one of the only countries that doesn't have a federal paid leave policy.
On Monday, March 18, more than 70 brands will be “closing their doors” to promote paid family and medical leave in partnership with the Paid Leave for All campaign. The one-day event will aim to encourage the United States Congress to pass paid family and medical leave for all working individuals.
Women are a huge portion of those impacted by the U.S.'s lack of paid leave policy, and according to the initiative's website, "nearly one in four women have returned to work within two weeks of giving birth." The movement is taking place in honor of Women’s History Month and meant to replicate what the workforce would look like if women were to leave it due to lack of maternity and medical leave.
“On this day, women across the country are coming together in solidarity to write our labor back into history — one where our work is visible, valued, and protected, wherever it is,” Paid Leave for All director Dawn Huckelbridge said in a press release. “Paid leave is a powerful tool for economic growth and for gender and racial equity, and Congress can’t take women, our issues—or our votes—for granted any longer.”
It's not just women who would benefit from this federal policy. The program would also offer support and protection to businesses by attracting more employees, reducing turnover, and providing millions of jobs. According to the initiative, two-thirds of small businesses are already on board with the idea of federal paid leave.
How Fashion Brands Are Standing Up for Reproductive Rights
Brands joining in on Monday's movement include a wide variety of maternity, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle companies like Hatch, Tender Foundation, and ROC United (who are all a part of the founding committee), as well as Bugaboo, elvie, HeyMama, Lalo, and more. All participating establishments will also show their support by sharing an Instagram graphic.
“This initiative isn’t just about time to recover — it’s about the protection and support of all women and families during one of the most vulnerable and transitional moments in their lives,” Founder and CEO of Hatch Ariane Goldman said in the statement before adding that paid leave is more important now than ever given the decrease in reproductive healthcare resources for women.
“We cannot solve this issue ourselves," she continued. "Letting things continue as they are is too high of a cost — to not only the emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing of women, but also to small businesses and even the economy at large.”
Show your support and learn more at paidleaveforall.org.