Making Progress on Paid Family and Medical Leave Policies in the South

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...

Source: https://www.thetimesnews.com/online_features/family_living/making-progress-on-paid-family-and-medical-leave-policies-in-the-south/article_f766f554-eab0-57b1-83f0-34f19cdaf2ac.html