Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) and paid sick leave help workers maintain their livelihoods while taking care of themselves and their families. And now, several states in the South have begun to expand worker access to these critical benefits.
(StatePoint)
Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) and paid sick leave help workers maintain their livelihoods while taking care of themselves and their families. And now, several states in the South have begun to expand worker access to these critical benefits.
On January 20, the Economic Policy Institute’s EARN in the South network — a coalition of Southern policy, research and grassroots organizations — held a virtual press conference highlighting 2026 opportunities to expand paid leave policies in Southern states.
In particular, Virginia is poised to become the first state in the South to enact comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation. Speakers celebrated the promise of Virginia’s proposed legislation and noted that for too long, Southern states have fallen behind as states in other regions have begun to implement comprehensive paid leave programs.
“At some point throughout our lives, all of us will need time off work to care for a loved one or receive care ourselves. Whether you are welcoming a new child, caring for an aging parent, or going through cancer treatment, you shouldn’t have to worry about missing a paycheck or even losing your job,” said Feroza Freeland, policy director at A Better Balance.
The press conference, which included paid leave policy experts from A Better Balance, 9to5 and the National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers, illustrated the importance of paid leave for Southern working families and small businesses, and the urgency of expanding paid leave to improve maternal health. It was also a celebration of recent breakthroughs, including paid parental and sick leave policies in states like Alabama, Georgia and Texas, demonstrating the fertile ground for more paid leave policies to progress in other parts of the region.
“Southern workers should not be forced to choose between their livelihood and the health and well-being of themselves or their loved ones,” said Keesa Smith-Brantley, executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families.
Experts emphasize that paid leave policies are not only good for individuals and families, they’re good for business and the economy. To advocate for paid family and medical leave policies in your state and across the country, sign up with the National Collaborative for Infants & Toddlers at ncit.org.
“A state-run paid family and medical leave program would level the playing field for small businesses, allowing them to better compete with big businesses that can afford to offer this benefit,” said Rachel Shanklin, Georgia director for Small Business Majority. “Additionally, paid leave enhances productivity and improves workplace morale. Offering paid leave isn’t just the right thing to do — it also makes good business sense.”
