Geoff: This weekend marked the
30th anniversary of the family
and medical leave act becoming
law, but the law still comes up
short for too many workers.
We have a look at the impact and
challenges ahead.
Reporter: The family and medical
leave act was held as
revolutionary for its time.
Workers were guaranteed job
protection if they needed to
take time off.
At a white house ceremony last
week, former resident and in
said the legislation is more
widely acknowledged that any
other action of his presidency
and he shared one story about
the impact.
>> He grammy by the elbow and he
said, you know, my little girl
is not going to make it much
longer.
He said because of the family
and medical leave act, these
months I have spent with her are
by far the most important of my
life.
Reporter: The act only goes so
far.
According to a recent analysis,
44% of American workers do not
qualify.
For more on this, I am joined by
Jocelyn.
Thank you so much for joining
the newshour.
You have described the family
and medical leave act as
groundbreaking.
What impact has it had on
families?
>> Thank you for having me.
It has had an extraordinary
impact.
We estimate over 30 years, more
hundred 463 million people have
used the fmla.
That is simply an astounding
number and it speaks to the need
that was present 30 years ago
and continuing need families
face to make sure they can care
for loved ones in moments of an
emergency.
Reporter: At the end of the day,
this is unpaid leave.
What limitations does this law
pose for workers, and what
specific demographics are
uncovered?
>> It is unpaid leave, it is job
protected.
There are workers that can't
afford to take time off and the
newspaper.
We estimate 10 million workers
take leave.
Workers of color are
disproportionate.
47% of Asian workers, 43% of
black workers.
Workers of color bearing the
brunt of those gaps and those
are the gas we should fill.
Reporter: President Biden said
he will continue to push for
paid family and medical leave,
efforts to pass that Lester
failed largely because of Joe
Manchin.
He did not support tethering
that to the inflation reduction
act which was the party-line
vote.
There is a new bipartisan group
trying to pass the paid leave
program ahead of the state of
the union.
Can a national paid leave
program passe divided congress?
>> It can.
The fmla was a bipartisan bill.
The other thing we have to
remember was it was Vito twice.
Congress may look challenging at
the moment, we will never give
up.
We know that the public,
Republicans and Democrats and
independents want paid family
and medical leave.
We came close with build back
better, but the good thing is we
came so close.
We know it will happen
eventually.
We will keep pressing.
Reporter: President was pushing
for 12 weeks.
Once a response to that?
>> First of all, those are the
same criticism we have heard 30
years ago when the fmla was
passed.
The data speaks for itself.
We know that large majorities,
92% has not been a problem.
One third of those employers say
it helps with productivity.
We note that the research speaks
otherwise.
There are employers today who
will say it has been good for
business.
It makes them more productive.
Many of those critiques for very
small businesses, if you listen
to groups like the small
business majority, this will