Business Supporters

Business supporters are advancing national paid leave

Business supporters advancing a national paid family and medical leave policy include national companies, leading executives, and small businesses across the country.

Discover why over 75 executives and small business owners why they are in support of national paid leave.

National Businesses

Business Leaders

John Arensmeyer

Founder and CEO

Small Business Majority

Amanda Ballantyne

National Director

The Main Street Alliance

Jenny Dearborn

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

SAP

Cynthia DiBartolo

Chairperson

Greater New York Chamber of Commerce

Margot Dorfman

CEO

U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce

Jan Jones Blackhurst

Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility

Caesars Entertainment

David Levine

Co-Founder and President

American Sustainable Business Council

Tom Nides

Managing Director and Vice Chairman

Morgan Stanley

Alexis Ohanian

Co-Founder

Reddit and Initialized Capital

Paul Orfalea

Founder

Kinko’s

Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook COO

Founder of LeanIn.org and OptionB.org

Susan Wojcicki

CEO

YouTube

Small Businesses

Learn more about national paid leave principles

Businesses know this country needs a strong national paid leave plan and support including key paid leave principles in legislation to meet the needs of working people and businesses.

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Read our business leadership examples

See how businesses are making the case for national paid family and medical leave in creative and compelling ways, including customer engagement, public education, policy advocacy and more.

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In 2015, we were one of the first companies to enhance our Family Leave policy. We now provide up to 26 weeks fully paid time to bond with a new baby, up to 10 weeks fully paid time for medical leave and up to four weeks fully paid time for employees to care for a sick family member. We are now able to care for our employees during major life events with time and financial support, doing the right thing for our employees and our business. Government mandates in the U.S. for paid leave are currently slim to nonexistent, that is why we fully support the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, a federal bill that would address America's paid family and medical leave crisis to benefit working people, their families, businesses and our nation's economy."

Donna Morris, Executive Vice President, Customer and Employee Experience

Adobe

Computer Software

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

FAMILY Act Endorser

"I'm a strong advocate of providing benefits to parents, including paid parental leave. That's why as a co-founder of Airbnb, I've ensured that we provide paid parental leave for all new parents. I'm myself a father of two young children. I understand the challenges of balancing work with parenthood, but I also recognize how parenthood can make employees more aware and efficient. Parenting builds patience and empathy, and those who are provided time to effectively parent become more effective employees."

Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-Founder, Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman of Airbnb China

Airbnb

Internet

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

"Amalgamated Bank was founded almost a century ago as a bank primarily for low and middle-income workers. Since that time we have proudly supported and advocated for the rights and interests of working people across the country. We were the first bank to institute a $15 minimum wage; we advocate for workers' rights through shareholder activism; we offer paid family leave to our employees; and, we support public policy that furthers the interests of American workers. We are proud to support the FAMILY Act, which would enable workers to take needed leave to support their families through birth, injury, and illness, without a financial burden. All workers deserve the opportunity to balance the demands of their work while taking care of themselves and their families."

Keith Mestrich, President and CEO

Amalgamated Bank

Banking

FAMILY Act Endorser

“Artsy’s people are our most important investment. Their engagement, performance, and wellbeing are deeply linked with their ability to take care of their families. That is why we offer appropriate family leave policies and prioritize a healthy work-life culture. It's also why we are strong supporters of paid family leave reform and the principles advocated by the FAMILY Act.”

Mike Steib, Chief Executive Officer

Artsy

FIne Art

Food & Beverage

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

FAMILY Act Endorser

"We created Fairygodboss to improve the lives and workplaces for women through transparency. Our website hosts a crowdsourced paid parental leave database, which helps workers learn more about the types of leave they can expect from various employers. As our database shows, a growing number of employers are offering paid family leave; they recognize that it not only supports employees, but also boosts the bottom line. However, we cannot simply rely on progressive employers to do the right thing — even when it is likely to improve their own employee retention and turnover. Too many workers miss out on the health, economic, and social benefits of paid leave because their employers don't offer leave. That's why it's more important than ever to continue fighting for comprehensive paid leave legislation. The FAMILY Act — which is modeled after successful state programs — would no doubt meet the needs of the modern workforce so that people won't have to choose between getting paid and supporting their loved ones."

Romy Newman, President and Co-Founder

Fairygodboss

"At Seventh Generation, we believe that paid leave must be a national priority to help our economy, our workforce, and above all, our families. Leading businesses recognize that workers inevitably need time away from work to attend to health or family issues. Paid parental leave helps families stay on track to meet new expenses and provides parents needed time to bond with their child. Paid leave is also good for business, improving worker retention, productivity, and morale. The Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act a proposal that would create a national paid family and medical leave insurance program for all employees and is critical to nurturing the health of the next generation. Among all developed economies around the globe, the United States is the only country that does not guarantee paid maternity leave. Now is the time to change that by passing the FAMILY Act."

Joey Bergstein, CEO

Seventh Generation

Consumer Goods

FAMILY Act Endorser

"At Spotify, our people are our greatest assets. Our ability to continue to deliver the world's best music service lies in their hands. Spotify's paid leave policy defines who we are as a company, born out of a culture that emphasizes a healthy work/family balance, gender equality and the ability for every parent to spend quality time with the people that matter most in their lives. We believe that all working people in the United States deserve the same without risking their financial stability or disrupting their career. Our Swedish roots show us that a national paid leave policy can effectively and affordably support a family-friendly culture. That's why we support the FAMILY Act. We believe this policy will make a tangible difference in the lives of America's workers and families, help create a baseline on which businesses like us can build and strengthen America's economy."

Katarina Berg, Chief Human Resources Officer

Spotify

FAMILY Act Endorser

"UrbanSitter understands the critical importance of family caregiving. Founded by moms, our company is committed to helping families find trusted babysitters and nannies so that they can balance their work and life demands with the quality care their children need. We also know that sometimes working adults need paid leave to provide care for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or to care for their own personal medical need. That is why we support the key paid leave principles and the FAMILY Act, which reflect the successful paid family and medical leave program that California has had in place for over a decade. We support a national paid family and medical leave program so that all working people — including our own team and the nannies, babysitters, and families who use our platform — have access to this essential benefit, no matter where they live or work. We know life is a balancing act, but it can be made easier. It’s time for national paid family and medical leave to support working adults in caring for their families and themselves."

Daisy Downs, Co-Founder and Vice President of Brand

UrbanSitter

Internet

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

FAMILY Act Endorser

"Since our founding, Badger has been committed to taking the high road with family-focused policies such as babies at work and flexible scheduling that improve employee well-being and workplace practices. We attribute our virtually zero recruitment costs and turnover to our benefits. Potential employees seek us out, and once they join the team, they remain because of our unique culture and approach to business. In a recent employee engagement survey administered by an outside firm, 100 percent surveyed felt their manager respected their work-life balance, 82 percent reported feeling highly engaged, and more than half plan to stay at Badger for more than five years. We support the FAMILY Act because it builds community and strong workplace culture, increases retention and is great for recruitment. We hope that by lending our voice, sharing our best practices, and serving as a leader and role model within the business community, that we can help other organizations get behind this common-sense proposal for a national paid family medical leave insurance program."

Emily Hall-Warren, Director of Administration

W.S. Badger Company

Consumer Goods

FAMILY Act Endorser

"Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies has become a showcase for businesses that understand the importance of making it possible for mothers to both succeed in their jobs and care for their families. When I created it in 1986, that was a foreign concept. Then and now, the winning businesses recognize that workplace policies that support working moms are not only good for families, but also good for business. But this realization is not universal among businesses; only 13 percent have paid family and medical leave through their employers, and fewer than 40 percent have medical leave through short-term disability programs. When the Family and Medical Leave Act passed 20 years ago, guaranteeing some workers access to 12 weeks of unpaid leave, along with many others, I assumed that by now this leave would be paid. But it isn't, and workers are still struggling to make ends meet when they need to take leave.The FAMILY Act would make it possible for women and men around the country to take paid leave in order to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or bond with a new child. If enacted, this policy would soon prove to employers what many successful businesses already know: profits and policies that support working families can and do go hand-in-hand."

Carol Evans, President

Working Mother Media

Media Production

FAMILY Act Endorser

"At XO Group, we believe we bear a sacred responsibility for the wellbeing of our employees and their families. Paid family leave is one of the most important ways we support our employees' families at the most important moments in their lives. We are strong supporters of the FAMILY Act because we believe every American should receive the time and support they need to care for their loved ones when it matters most."

Mike Steib, CEO

XO Group

Online Media

FAMILY Act Endorser

"Small employers know policies that address family and medical leave create a happier and more productive staff, which in turn leads to increased profits. What's more, these type of policies help level the playing field between small businesses that want to offer this benefit but can't, and their larger counterparts that can. "Our research shows more than two-thirds of small business owners have some type of policy in place to provide family and medical leave to employees, but they still need help providing it. Small employers understand their staff is not just contributing to the success of their businesses and the economy, but also to the wellbeing of themselves and their families."

John Arensmeyer

Founder and CEO

Small Business Majority

"Access to paid family and medical leave is critical to ensuring a thriving small business sector. Small businesses that do not provide paid leave struggle to retain talented staff, and small business owners themselves need paid leave. They, too, have new babies, ailing partners or parents, and a single accident or medical emergency could jeopardize the health of a small business. But most small businesses simply can't afford to provide paid leave on their own. A national paid family and medical leave insurance system would make paid leave affordable and accessible to small businesses, helping to level the playing field between Main Street and large corporations, which wield the market power to give good benefits to top managers but are squeezing everyone else with low-wage, uncertain jobs."

Amanda Ballantyne

National Director

The Main Street Alliance

"What I've learned from my time in the tech industry is that companies only succeed by imagining new realities. Women are an incredible asset to the workforce, not only bringing innovation to all industries, but also boosting our economy. Firms that have more women in senior positions and on corporate boards have been found to be more profitable, but barriers, like the lack of access to paid family and medical leave, stand in the way of many. Being the only country without a national paid family and medical leave plan is not only a disadvantage to women, and our economy, but also to families and the growth of business. I endorse the Family And Medical Insurance Leave Act (FAMILY Act) because it levels the playing field for businesses and employees. It allows women and men to take the time they need and deserve when serious family or medical needs arise no matter where they work — and that is good for families, businesses, the economy and U.S. competitiveness."

Jenny Dearborn

Executive Vice President, Human Resources

SAP

"A large number of studies show that childcare, flexible work hours, and paid family leave all have a very high return on investment (ROI). Moreover, there is compelling evidence that points to the fact that companies can measurably improve their bottom line by transforming a company's corporate culture into one of a truly caring organization — which basically means, putting the interests of their employees first! The FAMILY Act will enable employers of all sizes to more easily offer paid family and medical leave. It will help businesses to do what's good for employees and good for the bottom line.

Cynthia DiBartolo

Chairperson

Greater New York Chamber of Commerce

"Women business owners understand that paid family leave is valuable for both families and businesses. Already, workers in California, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have access to family leave insurance programs. The FAMILY Act will bring this important workplace standard to all Americans, benefiting both employers and employees. It will reduce costs over the long term and level the playing field between small and large firms. Workers who have access to paid family leave are productive, loyal employees who spare businesses the high cost of turnover."

Margot Dorfman

CEO

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

Jan Jones Blackhurst

Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility

Caesars Entertainment

"The business case for the FAMILY Act is simple — good workplace policies make good business sense. Family leave insurance helps retain high quality talent, reduces costs, and ultimately improves the financial bottom line. As we document in our High Road Workplace Report, high road employers see their employees, the communities in which they operate, and the products and services they provide as equally vital to their financial success."

David Levine

Co-Founder and President

American Sustainable Business Council

"Paid family and medical leave is personally important to me. As a father of two in a family where both parents work outside the home, I know how difficult it is to be both a good parent and a good worker. While at the State Department, I watched my staff, who had no paid family leave, struggle to cobble together paid sick leave and annual vacation time in order to take time with new babies. And as a businessman, I've seen that demonstrating loyalty and respect for our people reinforces the same in return. A federal law that guarantees all workers paid family and medical leave is critical to supporting our people and economic stability. I support the FAMILY Act because it is not only good for families and businesses, it also makes economic sense."

Tom Nides

Managing Director and Vice Chairman

Morgan Stanley

"As an entrepreneur, I poured everything into the companies I founded. Yet once I became a father, there was no question where my priorities lay. For the first few months of my daughter's life, I needed to be with her and my wife. Unfortunately, many adults in this country are not afforded this 'privilege,' whether they need to care for a new child, a spouse following surgery, or an aging parent in their final days. My own experience taking leave has influenced my business leadership: Reddit and Initialized Capital offer 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave, and we encourage the companies we invest in to be generous with their own policies. This is more than just about doing the right thing — it's a smart business decision. Whether you're in the C-suite or just starting out, you should be able to prioritize your family when they need you. With all the benefits that I've seen personally and professionally, it's disappointing to know just how far behind the U.S. is on this issue. If we truly believe the family is the bedrock of our country, it's time lawmakers start acting like it and institute national paid family and medical leave."

Alexis Ohanian

Co-Founder

Reddit and Initialized Capital

"I supported California's Paid Family Leave law and I support this national version. If we're not taking care of our coworkers, we're not taking care of business."

Paul Orfalea

Founder

Kinko's

"We're one of the only developed countries in the world that doesn't offer paid leave. There's a really good bill out there called the FAMILY Act that would change this. It offers 12 weeks. It covers men and women. It offers substantial wage reimbursement and replacement. It covers all forms of childbirth and adoption and it allows people to care for seriously ill or injured family members or their own serious health issue. That's the kind of strong national policy we need."

Sheryl Sandberg

Facebook COO

Founder of LeanIn.org and OptionB.org

"When we increased paid maternity leave at Google from 12 to 18 weeks, we discovered it wasn't just good for mothers, it was good for business, doubling our retention rate amongst mothers. I've personally benefitted from Google's policy, but all working families, regardless of their employer or state of residence, deserve the benefits of paid family leave. That's why I support the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, a federal bill that would help employees care for their families until they were ready to return to work and help their businesses thrive."

Coast Scooter Company

Ohio

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

Texas

FAMILY Act Endorser

"I know firsthand the difference having access to paid family and medical leave can make. When my first daughter was born I was working at a job with paid leave benefits. But by the time my second daughter was born, I was now a small business owner and my husband and I were full time in our start-up, and I was back to work only a few days after giving birth. This is why we need more than one-off businesses to offer paid leave benefits -- we need a national paid leave family and medical insurance program that covers all businesses, regardless of size or industry and all individuals, whether they are employees that work part-time, full-time, individuals who are self-employed, independent contractors or business owners themselves. In the construction business, we work with many sub-contractors with small or one-person shops. They are in the same boat needing a program like this. The cost of offering short term disability insurance was astronomical for my small business, particularly in the construction industry. A national paid leave insurance program, like the FAMILY Act, would level the playing field between big and small business and just makes sense for a society that cares about family."

Emily Ingwersen, Co-Founder

Ginger Hill Design + Build

Maine

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

FAMILY Act Endorser

"I often joke that as a solopreneur, my job comes with unlimited, unpaid family leave. But in all seriousness, it's a scary proposition to have potentially no income for the duration of the time I take to care for myself, the little person I create, and my family. My husband and I are fortunate to have been able to save and create a safety net, so that I can take up to 8 weeks away from my business. Not all entrepreneurs have that luxury. I enthusiastically support the FAMILY Act and paid leave principles, and I encourage other small business owners to do the same."

Lelia Gowland, Principal

Gowland, LLC

Louisiana

Pennsylvania

FAMILY Act Endorser

"As a polling firm, Lake Research Partners promotes progressive public policy and helps launch more women into political positions. As a business, LRP implements progressive employment standards and supports women in the workforce. Our core values lead us to support the FAMILY Act. We owe it to people to create workplace standards for both women and men so that they can care for themselves and family members while remaining in the workforce long-term. Frankly, people have earned paid family and medical leave, and businesses should compensate their greatest asset: workers. The FAMILY Act will promote gender equity by destigmatizing leave-taking and provide greater economic security by ensuring that even low-income workers can spend time caring for their family without sacrificing their income. Our support of the FAMILY Act is just one of the many ways LRP matches our practices to our ideals."

Celinda Lake, President

Lake Research Partners

District Of Columbia

FAMILY Act Endorser

"In 2014, we celebrated our 100-year anniversary. We started as a family business, and our success and longevity are a direct result of our commitment to family and community. Supporting employees when they need to care for their health or that of their family is just common sense. We've run our own paid leave program for years and are proud to endorse the FAMILY Act, the smart proposal for a national paid family and medical leave program, so that workers across the country will have the same access to paid time off when they need it."

Jim Wellehan, President and Co-Owner

Lamey Wellehan

Maine

FAMILY Act Endorser

"For businesses the size of mine, the math only adds up when we use the power of numbers that a universal system provides. Right now, the lack of a paid leave system holds small businesses back and leaves people choosing between their well-being and their paycheck. An affordable, universal paid leave system will let employers like me give our employees the benefits we want to be able to provide and free us to keep looking for new opportunities to create jobs and serve our communities."

Donna Welch, Owner

Let's Meat on the Avenue

Virginia

Paid Leave Principles Endorser

FAMILY Act Endorser

"The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) uses California's paid leave law as a model for the benefits we provide our employees across five offices in four states. We believe it is essential to support employees at all stages of life from parents with new children to caring for themselves during illnesses or a loved one in times of greatest need. Paid family and medical leave helps LIIF attract and retain talented employees and contributes to our team members' individual economic stability. LIIF is committed to the FAMILY Act, which would be a national solution that enables all workers time to care for themselves and their loved ones and would strengthen our country's workforce."

Daniel A. Nissenbaum, President and CEO

Low Income Investment Fund

California

FAMILY Act Endorser

"At MAIA, we are committed to creating a more female-centric economy and ecosystem. We focus on directing our collective purchasing power toward women-owned businesses, which we believe will have a ripple effect by improving the economy, strengthening businesses, impacting products and services, and fostering equity at home and work. Paid family and medical leave is essential, as it encourages men to play equal roles in caregiving and domestic life while allowing women to better balance their family responsibilities with their careers. We call on businesses and policymakers to advance inclusive paid leave for all working people."

Kateri Ruiz, Founder and CEO

MAIA

Minnesota

North Carolina

FAMILY Act Endorser

Alice Goldsmith, Founder and Creative Director

Wild Vase

California