Government programs that provide financial support for workers who need time off sound terrific. We assume that it will help those struggling financially most, keeping them afloat and getting them through challenging times. That’s why polls show strong, bipartisan support for government paid leave programs.
But as explained in this video, this isn’t how traditional paid leave entitlement actually work. In countries and states with government paid leave programs, it tends to be the well off who use the most benefits while those with the lowest earnings are less likely to receive benefits. Yet those with lower earnings are still paying into the program, and are the most likely to face reduced job opportunities and lower earnings.