Paid Parental Leave Expands to More State Employees in Kansas

Thousands of additional state employees will benefit from paid parental leave, as the Judicial Branch and Board of Regents have updated their paid family leave policies.

Both of the policies reflect the Governor’s executive order with the following changes:

• The Judicial Branch altered its paid parental leave policy to eight weeks for both parents (instead of four weeks for the secondary parent).

• The Board of Regents require their employees to be employed for 12 months to be eligible (instead of 180 days).

“Our research has shown that paid family leave is a win-win for families, employers, and the economy — so we’re thrilled that more state employees will have access to this family-friendly benefit,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “We look forward to continuing to work with legislators to pass paid family leave laws and urge other states without paid family leave policies to consider the research-backed benefits that support employees and their families.”

Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the United WE, formerly Women’s Foundation, which works with Kansas leaders to provide research on the benefits of paid family leave.

More information on United WE’s research into paid family leave is available at: https://united-we.org/paid-leave.

Jackson County Executive White and Appointments Project® Partner to Increase Women’s Participation on Boards and Commissions

Women’s Foundation Appointments Project® Announces Expanded Programming to Jackson County, Missouri

Kansas City, MO – September 24, 2020 –  The Office of County Executive Frank White, Jr., in partnership with the Appointments Project® today announce their collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on county boards and commissions. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project® has successfully placed 140 women on boards and commissions, including 28 percent women of color since inception.  

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to increase gender parity and better drive representation across civic leadership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents,” County Executive White said. “We are eager to partner with the Appointments Project® and strengthen our county by increasing the number of appointed women, with an initial focus on the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. It is my understanding that there have likely only been three female commissioners in the Authority’s 50-year history.”

The Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse, qualified applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The Appointments Project® formula trains and mentors women through the process of applying for these positions, fast-tracking their ability to get appointed at every level of government.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they weren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project® so boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “We are grateful to have County Executive White join us as a partner to expand the program in the Kansas City metro area. Together, we are addressing the gender disparities in local civic leadership and are able to make real changes in our communities.” 

Based on a growing number of success stories, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to work with elected officials and better community representation that leads to better lives for all.  To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit www.appointmentsproject.org. 

About Appointments Project®

To create lasting change for women and their families, the Women’s Foundation headquartered in Kansas City focuses on relevant research and strategic partnerships. In 2014, they established the Appointments Project® to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions. Through a landmark study, they identified the barriers causing women to be underrepresented on civic boards and commissions and established the Appointments Project® to improve the number of women serving. For more information, please visit www.appointmentsproject.org or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @appointmentsproject).

Women’s Foundation Commends Bipartisan Momentum Behind Paid Family Leave

KANSAS CITY – The Women’s Foundation today commended the bipartisan momentum behind paid family and medical leave after President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the policy in his State of the Union Address earlier this week. 

“Paid family leave means strong families and strong businesses, and we’re thrilled that bipartisan momentum behind this policy continues to build,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “The progress we’re making here in Missouri and Kansas has become a national model for how leaders of both parties can come together to make a positive difference for families and businesses alike.”

Expanding access to paid family and medical leave is a top priority of the Women’s Foundation, which worked with elected officials to provide parental leave to nearly all state employees in Missouri and Kansas. 

The organization also advocates for reforms such as salary history bans, which help break the cycle of pay inequity by ensuring women are paid based on their merits rather than their previous salary level.

Women’s Foundation research on the benefits of paid family leave can be found here: 
http://www.womens-foundation.org/paid-leave

The mission of Women's Foundation is to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. We envision a world where all women are empowered to strengthen America’s economy and democracy.

Women’s Foundation Commends Kansas Supreme Court for Adopting Paid Parental Leave

TOPEKA – The Women’s Foundation today commended the Kansas Supreme Court for its decision to provide 1,600 employees of the judicial branch with up to six weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. The move follows Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer’s executive order extending paid parental leave to more than 17,000 state workers.

“Paid leave is proven to have enormous benefits for both families and employers, so we commend the Kansas Supreme Court for adopting this smart, fiscally responsible policy for judicial branch employees,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “Our research has shown that paid leave is a win-win for families and employers — improving productivity, reducing turnover and lowering reliance on public assistance. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to ensure that all Kansans have the ability to take family and medical leave without taking a hit to their livelihoods.”

Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the Women’s Foundation, which worked with policymakers in both Kansas and Missouri to provide research on the benefits of paid family and medical leave.

As a result, officials in Missouri expanded paid parental leave to employees of nearly every state agency while Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed an executive order providing paid parental leave to 17,000 state employees.

More information on the Women’s Foundation research into paid family and medical leave is available at: http://www.womens-foundation.org/paid-leave/

Why paid family and medical leave should be the defining issue of 2019

Two years ago, Maggie Ahrenbach and her husband were expecting their first child. An attorney in the State Attorney General’s office, Maggie was overjoyed, but she was also worried about being able to cobble together enough annual and sick leave to bond with her daughter without sacrificing her income. That changed in 2017 when the Missouri Governor and other statewide officeholders granted their employees six weeks of paid parental leave to bond with a newborn or adopted child.

“Instantly,” Maggie said, “a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I would not have to meticulously calculate how many hours I could afford to use for doctor appointments and ultrasounds. I could schedule appointments as I needed them and not have to worry whether I was going to be dipping into my maternity leave reserve.”

Last month, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer followed suit, making Kansas the 15th state to provide paid parental leave to all or some of their workforce by signing an executive order extending the benefit to more than 17,000 Kansas state employees.

This progress is another indication that – more than two years since then-candidate Donald Trump added paid family leave to his presidential campaign platform – momentum continues to build around this family- and business-friendly policy.

As an organization that uses research to develop solutions that empower women and their families economically, we know paid family and medical leave is a clear win-win for women, families and our economy as a whole.

Our research has found that paid family leave programs prevent families from falling into poverty, reduce reliance on public assistance, help employers recruit and retain talented employees and increase worker productivity.

That’s why it’s frustrating that 88 percent of private sector employees lack access to paid family leave, and the U.S. remains the only industrialized country in the world without a nationwide paid leave program.

In 2019, state legislators will have another opportunity to make sure no parent has to choose between caring for a child and keeping their paycheck – by expanding paid family and medical leave statewide.

Here are five reasons why legislators should prioritize paid family and medical leave this year.

1. Stronger Families. First, there is strong evidence that paid family leave programs have a positive impact on the health and well-being of families – reducing infant mortality, increasing birth weight and improving rates of breastfeeding. At a Congressional hearing on the issue, Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy noted that mothers who take paid leave are 50 percent less likely to be readmitted to the hospital after giving birth.

2. Stronger Businesses. In 2014, the White House Council on Economic Advisors concluded that paid family and medical leave programs can improve long-term productivity by boosting recruitment, retention and employee motivation.

3. Reduced Reliance on Public Assistance. One study found women who take paid family leave are 39 percent less likely to receive public assistance or food stamps in the year following a child’s birth, compared to women who take no leave.

4. Immeasurable Benefits – for the Cost of a Cup of Coffee Per Week. Paid family and medical leave offers families an immeasurable sense of security and stability – for pennies per day. For example, an employee payroll contribution of 0.25 percent comes out to about the cost of a cup of coffee per week for the average worker.

5. Bipartisan Support. In today’s highly polarized political climate, paid family and medical leave is one of those rare issues that receives support from people on both sides of the partisan divide. According to Pew, 82 percent of Americans say mothers should have paid maternity leave, while nearly 70 percent support paid paternity leave.

Earlier this year, the President’s daughter and senior advisor Ivanka Trump wrote on FoxNews.com that “paid family leave is targeted government action with the right incentives – designed to increase the independence, health and dignity of our citizens.”

We couldn’t agree more.

This year, Missouri legislators have an opportunity to change lives and strengthen our economy by passing a statewide paid family and medical leave program that will benefit families and businesses alike.

Governor Colyer Signs Executive Order Providing Paid Parental Leave to Kansas State Employees

The policy will give primary caregivers six weeks of paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child

TOPEKA – The Women’s Foundation today commended Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer for signing an executive order providing paid parental leave to Kansas state employees. Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the Women’s Foundation, which worked with the Governor’s office to provide research on the benefits of paid family and medical leave.

“This is great news for state employees, and all Kansans who will benefit from a healthier, stronger and more productive state workforce,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “Over the past two years, the family-friendly policies we championed here in the heartland have helped spur a national movement towards paid family leave that is benefiting state employees from coast to coast. We commend Governor Colyer for taking this positive step, and look forward to continuing to promote equity and opportunity across the region.”

Under the policy, all state employees under the governor's jurisdiction will be eligible to receive paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child, with primary caregivers receiving six weeks and secondary caregivers receiving three weeks. Employees will receive 100 percent of their regular salary during their leave.

Over the past two years, the Women’s Foundation worked with Missouri officials to expand paid parental leave to employees of nearly every state agency. Women’s Foundation research, commissioned in partnership with the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy, found that PFL programs prevent families from falling into poverty, reduce reliance on public assistance, recruit and retain talented employees, and increase worker productivity.

Kansas joins 14 states and the District of Columbia that provide paid parental leave to all or some of their workforce: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.

Women’s Foundation’s Paid Leave Policy Research Brief is available here.

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

Women’s Foundation Commends Bipartisan Support for Paid Family Leave

KANSAS CITY – The Women’s Foundation today praised the bipartisan consensus on paid family leave shown during a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday. The issue is being championed by Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and advisor, and embraced by leaders on both sides of the aisle.

“The United States is the only industrialized country in the world without a national paid leave program, so it’s great to see this issue gaining momentum and bipartisan support in Congress,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “Our research shows that paid leave is just as important for men as it is for women – because no one should have to choose between caring for a child or loved-one and keeping their paycheck. Allowing people to take time off to bond with a child or care for a sick parent is something both parties can agree on and we’ll be working hard to keep this issue on the front burner with policymakers in the heartland as well.”

The Women’s Foundation supported the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act (House Bill 1974) last year, and has worked with policymakers in Missouri to expand paid parental leave to employees of nearly every state agency.