FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2024
Contact: Laura Millard Ross, Communications Director, Michigan League for Public Policy
lauramr@mlpp.org
517-281-1084
New reports show a Michigan paid family and medical leave program would result in positive economic, health and employment outcomes
MI Paid Leave for All Coalition weighs in on reports released by LEO on Friday
LANSING—The MI Paid Leave for All Coalition issued the following statements on two new reports released Oct. 25 by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The reports highlight the positive economic, health and employment outcomes that could be achieved if Michigan were to implement a paid family and medical leave program for working Michiganders and their families.
“These reports confirm what we already knew: that a paid family and medical leave program would be transformational for workers, families and businesses here in Michigan,” said Danielle Atkinson, the National Executive Director and Founder of Mothering Justice. “Providing our state’s workers with the time away that they need for critical caregiving responsibilities will make Michigan families, businesses and our economy stronger as a whole. The time is now for Michigan to join the 13 states that have already passed paid family and medical leave laws.”
“There are very real costs that have come with inaction on paid leave, including 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,” said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy. “These reports coupled with the actuarial analysis released earlier this year lay out a rock solid case for why it’s time to take action on paid leave. They show that paid leave is not only affordable and sustainable, but also the right thing to do for the people who call Michigan home and the smart thing to do for our state.”
“The expected costs of implementing a state paid leave program are far outweighed by the positive impacts this type of program would have on workers and families here in Michigan, especially when it comes to their health,” said Mallory Applewhite, Vice President of Community Impact with the American Heart Association-Michigan. “The positive maternal and infant health outcomes, in particular, speak volumes about how paid parental leave can make a meaningful difference in the lives of new parents, while ensuring children get a strong start during the most critical time in their development.”
“As a business owner, these reports really ease my mind. The evidence continues to show me that paid family and medical leave will benefit my staff and me,” said Kai Young, owner of Squiggles & Giggles Early Childhood Learning Center, LLC in Detroit.
Additional information on new reports:
One report, titled Paid Family Medical Leave: Health & Employment Outcomes by Patricia Stoddard-Dare, PhD, delves into the evidence from many peer-reviewed studies that show that paid family and medical leave programs result in a decrease in poverty and less reliance on social safety net programs, while having a positive or neutral influence on employees’ earnings. From a business perspective, the report also shows that paid family and medical leave programs have resulted in an increase in attachment to the workforce, have not impacted business productivity and have had a positive or neutral impact on business profitability.
A second report, 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, supports many of the same findings regarding improved economic well-being for families, while also demonstrating that there is growing evidence that paid family and medical leave plays an important role in protecting the health of workers and their families.
A recent poll presented by Progress Michigan shows that 71% of Michiganders support a paid family and medical leave program and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer identified it as one of her top legislative priorities last fall. Legislation to implement a paid family and medical leave program (SB 332-333 and HB 4574-4575) was introduced in the Michigan Legislature in May 2023, but the bills have yet to receive a committee hearing.
###
The MI Paid Leave for All Coalition is over 80 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 sacrificing paying 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.
