By Sarah Rense, Esquire

Paid family and medical leave is often criticized as a “job killer” in the United States, with opponents arguing that giving new parents paid time off leads to higher unemployment. But a study published Thursday by the Center for American Progress finds that in fact, these programs could help employers by “decreasing costly turnover, saving on health care costs, and boosting productivity.”

Paid family and medical leave is catching on more slowly than paid sick leave nationwide. But the report found that in the three states that have implemented it—California, Rhode Island, and New Jersey—unemployment actually decreased over the first year. The report also found that in 16 out of the 19 cities that have implemented paid sick day laws, unemployment also decreased after a year.

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