Paid Leave for All Kansans – Working People Need Access to Paid Leave

Supporting Our Families and Economy Through Paid Leave for Working Kansans

About

Nothing is more important to Kansans than family. Bonding with a new child, caring for a sick partner or aging parent, or taking leave to recover from a personal illness or surgery—these are some of life’s most significant moments. Every Kansan will need time to care for a loved one, a child, or even their own health at some point in their lives. Despite this universal need, most Kansans don’t have access to paid family and medical leave. Working people lack the stability paid leave would provide in their most desperate moments.

The Coalition

The Paid Leave for All Kansans coalition is a broad network of businesses, organizations, advocates, and leaders who believe that our families and workers will be more independent and our state more prosperous when we invest in paid leave.

JOIN THE COALITION

If I would have had any amount of paid family leave, even just so I could have had a small safety net of PTO when I went back to work, it would have had immense health and mental health benefits for myself and my daughter. It also would have allowed me to be more productive when I was at work, not having to try and juggle breastfeeding, doctors appointments, and other during my off hours or on lunch breaks.

Jenny Tatman

Read Jenny’s story

Our Priorities

No one should be forced to choose between their job and their health or the needs of their family. Yet, every day, Kansans face these difficult decisions. The Paid Leave for All Kansans Coalition is working together on a common sense solution that supports families at critical moments in their lives and strengthens workers and businesses. Our coalition will share the health, workforce, and economic benefits of paid family leave and Kansans’ personal experiences with policymakers, leaders, and Kansans across the state.

Why a Honeybee?

Not only is the honey bee the state insect of Kansas, it also is a symbol of perseverance, collaboration, and community. It highlights the importance of helping one another to support families and strengthen our communities. The Paid Leave for All Kansans coalition embraces these same values.

Paid Leave Needed in Kansas

According to a report by the National Partnership for Women & Families, most working Kansans lack paid family leave, which worsens economic and caregiving challenges across the state, impacting families, public health, and the economy.

76%

of Kansans—about 1.2 million workers—do not have paid family and medical leave through their jobs.

62%

of Kansans are unable to access unpaid leave through the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

Status Paid Leave in the United States

Paid leave has been passed or implemented in 13 states plus the District of Columbia.

US Map of Paid Leave

Paid Leave has been implemented in 13 states and Washington D.C.

Colorado

Effective 2024. Offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Washington

Effective 2020. Offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Oregon

Effective 2023. Offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

California

Effective 2004. Offers up to 8 weeks of paid leave for parental, family & military and up to 52 for personal medical care.

Minnesota

Effective 2026. Will offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Washington D.C.

Effective 2020. Offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Maryland

Effective ~2028. Will offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Delaware

Effective 2026. Will offers up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave and up to 6 weeks of other types of leave.

New Jersey

Effective 2009. Offers up to 12 weeks of parental & family leave and up to 26 weeks personal medical leave.

New York

Effective 2018. Offers up to 12 weeks of parental & family leave and up to 26 weeks personal medical leave.

Connecticut

Effective 2022. Offers up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Rhode Island

Effective 2014. Offers up to 7 weeks of parental & family leave and up to 30 weeks personal medical leave.

Massachusetts

Effective 2021. Offers up to 12 weeks of parental & family leave and up to 20 weeks personal medical leave.

Maine

Effective 2026. Will offer up to 12 weeks of paid leave.

Hawaii

No paid leave. Short term disability is available that covers 58% of an employee’s wages for up to 26 weeks.

Puerto Rico

No paid leave. Short term disability is available that pays between $12 and $113 per week for up to 26 weeks.

Share Your Story

Do you have a story about how having access to paid family and medical leave helped you? Or how you were unable to take paid leave when you needed? Tell us your story so that we may share to others why paid leave is important.