FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2024
Contact:
Laura Ross, Communications Director, Michigan League for Public Policy
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
Experts, policymakers highlight new studies showing statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave would benefit workers, economy
Sen. Erika Geiss joins Paid Leave for All Coalition Members to stress the importance of passing the Michigan Family Leave Optimal Coverage (MI-FLOC) legislation this year.
LANSING—On Wednesday, Nov. 13, advocates and experts held a virtual press conference highlighting the benefits that a statewide paid family and medical leave program would have for Michiganders and the importance of passing the Michigan Family Leave Optimal Coverage (MI-FLOC) during the final weeks of the 2024 legislative session.
“Today, we are here to discuss how the results of the qualitative studies confirm what we already know to be true,” said Sen. Erika Geiss. “These studies highlight that paid family leave is a win-win for people and businesses. Companies with paid leave programs report higher employee retention, increased productivity and lower turnover costs. For workers, they will have the time and financial assurances that they can take care of themselves or a loved one, without sacrificing financial security. FLOC is also good for the economy. Paid leave programs lead to healthier, more productive workers, which translates to a stronger workforce and a more resilient economy, for generations to come.”
The MI-FLOC legislation introduced last year would establish a 15-week paid family and medical leave program in Michigan, which is something that the majority of Michiganders–71%–have said they support. The studies referenced in today’s press conference were released by Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) and explore the health, employment and economic impacts of paid family and medical leave programs.
H. Luke Shaefer, the director of the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions and a co-author of one of the reports, noted that there are many positive economic impacts that come out of paid leave policies, including better economic security for workers and the multiplier effect of those dollars cycling through local economies. He also noted that people who go on leave are more likely to stay in a job, resulting in a short-term loss for employers for a long-term gain, and that paid leave programs can have a positive impact on labor force participation for those most likely to need to take leave.
“When we look, for example, at the labor force participation of women in other countries that have much, much more generous paid family leave policies than in the United States, we see that women in those countries have higher labor force participation over the long term as well as in all of the other states that have adopted a policy like this,” Shaefer said.
Monique Stanton, president and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, also touched on how an actuarial analysis also released by LEO this year shows that paid leave is a low-cost, high-value program for workers and businesses.
“Paid leave will cost less than a pop or a cup of coffee each week for workers that make the minimum or median wage. And, for that low cost, it will provide workers with the security they need to keep their jobs and the majority of their income if they were to need to take an extended leave from work to care for themself, a loved one or a new child,” Stanton said. “The costs of not implementing paid leave include wage and job losses for workers and families, worse health outcomes, higher healthcare costs, talent losses for businesses, and a negative impact on the state economy.”
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have passed and enacted paid leave policies.
“It’s time for Michigan to join California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington—the 13 states that have paid leave programs,” said Mothering Justice National Executive Director and Founder Danielle Atkinson. “What we have an opportunity to do here in Michigan is to stand up for people who have called for this policy overwhelmingly. We know this policy is overwhelmingly popular because it’s overwhelmingly needed.”
According to estimates, if Michigan were to implement the most robust plan included in the actuarial analysis commissioned by the State of Michigan, a worker making the state median wage ($46,940 at 40 hours per week) can expect to pay $178.37 annually or a little more than $3 per week in contributions. And an individual earning the current minimum wage ($21,486.40 at 40 hours per week) can expect to pay $81.65 annually or about $1.50 per week.
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A fact sheet on paid leave in Michigan is available here.
The studies referenced in yesterday’s press conference are:
- Economic and Health Impacts of Paid Parental, Caregiving, and Medical Leave by Karen Kling, H. Luke Shaefer and Betsey Stevenson with the University of Michigan’s Poverty Solutions
- Paid Family Medical Leave: Health & Employment Outcomes by Patricia Stoddard-Dare, PhD
The MI Paid Leave for All Coalition consists of more than 100 organizations that believe that all Michiganders deserve access to a strong paid family and medical leave program to take care of their own health, provide care for a loved one or welcome a new child without the risk of losing a job or not being able to pay their bills.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
