Appointments Project and Ready to Run Launch New Partnership to Prepare Women for Public Service

The Women’s Foundation and University of Kansas’ Institute for Leadership Studies launch the first-of-its-kind partnership to engage and educate Kansas women who want to serve their communities.

KANSAS CITY, MO – A first-of-its-kind partnership is launching in Kansas to encourage more women to serve in civic leadership roles, including both appointed and elected positions. Ready to Run® at the University of Kansas’s Institute for Leadership Studies and the Women’s Foundation’s Appointments Project® will launch the Women’s Leadership Series with three webinars beginning on Tuesday, May 12 at noon. The webinar series, entitled “Pathways to Service 2020: Finding your Civic Voice,” is designed to engage and prepare Kansas women to lead and serve their communities through civic leadership.

“Research shows us that women typically need to be asked several times before they run for political office,” said Mary Banwart, director of the KU Institute for Leadership Studies, “We hope to make that ask of more women and, through these programs, help them build the confidence and the skillset that they need to serve in civic leadership roles in their communities and in Kansas.”

 “The evidence is overwhelming that when women lead, everyone wins,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “We created the Appointments Project because we recognized that women weren’t just underrepresented in elected leadership roles, they were also being passed over for influential appointed positions as well. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the KU Institute for Leadership Studies on this first-of-its-kind initiative that will expand opportunities for aspiring women leaders and take us one step closer to closing the leadership gap once and for all.” 

The webinars will feature leading women’s voices and key thought leaders who strive to bring parity and diversity to our civic and elected positions in the state of Kansas. The webinar schedule is below:

May 12, 12-1pm:   Amplifying Women’s Voices: Representation & Civic Leadership

May 19, 12-1pm:   Women’s Voices on Civic Boards & Commissions: Appointments Project®

May 21, 12-1pm:   Taking your Voice Online: Designing a Digital Campaign

“Kansas is built on a rich history of women’s civic leadership at all levels of our social fabric, and a bright future for our state will depend on their leadership driving our social, civic, and economic engines,” said Sandy Praeger, former Kansas Insurance Commissioner, and a member of the Women’s Leadership Series Advisory Board. “The Women’s Leadership Series recognizes that women are underrepresented in both elected and appointed leadership roles – and we must do more to build better representation at all civic and elected levels. I’m proud to be supporting this partnership that will yield meaningful and long-term results for women, families, and all Kansans.”

The partnership marks the first time that Ready to Run®, a national network of non-partisan campaign training programs committed to electing more women to public office, has partnered with an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in appointed leadership roles. 

“When women’s voices are heard, everyone benefits – and that’s what this first-of-its-kind partnership is all about,” said Kay Barnes, former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, and a member of the Women’s Leadership Series Advisory Board. “I know from my own experience how difficult it can be for women to break down these barriers. By empowering more women to serve in these leadership roles – both elected and appointed – we can make government more reflective of and responsive to the communities it serves.”

WHAT:          “Pathways to Service 2020: Finding your Civic Voice,” a series of three webinars designed to engage and prepare Kansas women to lead and serve their communities through elected office and appointment to civic boards and commissions.

WHO:            The Appointments Project and Ready to Run at KU’s Institute for Leadership Studies

WHEN:          Tuesday, May 12, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

                        Tuesday, May 19, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

                        Friday, May 21, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE:       Webinar registration: https://womenlead.blog.ku.edu/register/

 The Appointments Project®

Established by the Women’s Foundation in 2014, the Appointments Project works to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions. Based on a landmark study on the barriers causing women to be underrepresented in these roles, the Appointments Project works to demystify the selection process, educate women about these lesser-known opportunities to serve and coach them on how to apply. The Appointments Project also works with elected leaders and their teams to connect them with qualified applicants for vacancies and share best practices for making sure public boards and commissions reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Ready to Run®

Ready to Run is a national network of bi-partisan candidate recruitment and training programs created by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University to ensure that more women are equipped to run for office, seek higher office, work on a campaign, get appointed to office, or learn more about the political system. 

Institute for Leadership Studies

The Institute for Leadership Studies (ILS) supports KU’s mission of educating students who can effectively engage in the process of leadership with innovative, interdisciplinary academic programs. Through the ILS these academic programs are collaboratively designed to educate and prepare students to make a difference from where they are with what they have, developing the courage and leadership skills to ignite positive change.

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Changemaker Profile: Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin, Ph.D. is the Vice President of Health Solutions at mySidewalk. She has been appointed to serve on two civic boards, the Kansas City Health Commission and Missouri’s Board of Healing Arts, through the Appointments Project.

What has serving on a public board or commission been like and what does your board do? 

I was appointed by Mayor James to the KCMO Health Commission — my first experience with an appointed position in Missouri. I had just moved to the area from California, and the Health Commission was a crash course in KCMO politics and policy — the good, bad and ugly! I jumped in head first, and soon found myself chairing a committee and working overtime to offer pro bono services to the city. Eventually, it was so successful that I left my job as a tenure-track professor to serve as Deputy Director of the Health Department, overseeing the very commission I had been appointed to. 

My service on the Board of Healing Arts is a gubernatorial appointment and required Senate confirmation, which was quite an interesting experience. Serving as the only non-MD or DO member on the licensing board has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It is challenging, fulfilling and sometimes frustrating. We are responsible for ensuring that Missourians are safe, even when that means weighing the need for more care in shortage areas against the need for the highest quality of care. 

 What inspired you to apply to serve? 

I’ve felt called into public service since as far back as I can remember. I was inspired to apply for a couple of reasons. First, the credibility of the Women’s Foundation was well-known. I knew that our values were aligned, and that they believed what I believed — that women deserved more representation, regardless of political party, in all levels of government. Second, I was hungry to contribute my experience in health and health care in my newly adopted hometown and home state. Serving on boards or commissions is an immersive experience, and I knew I would expand my professional networks much faster by partnering with the Foundation.

Is there anything that’s surprised you or a challenge you didn’t anticipate? 

Because the local appointment process was somewhat casual and low-key, I was not prepared for the pomp and circumstance of the state appointment process. Because I was appointed during a politically fraught time by a Democratic governor, I had to learn quickly that any resistance to my appointment had nothing to do with me personally —  it was all part of a political turf war that I could not solve. I did my best to connect with Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle and find commonalities. The Foundation equipped me with the right team to help me win confirmation. It was a life lesson I will hang on to when I run for office myself one day! 

What’s the current gender makeup of your board? How does having (or lacking) diversity impact the effectiveness of the board?

For the first time in the history of the board, our past president, current president (me!) and incoming president are all women. I have seen a shift in board culture as more women serve in leadership roles. Recently, we have focused efforts on internal policies related to reducing implicit bias in board investigations, trauma-informed investigatory techniques for survivors of sexual assault, as well as reducing stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment. Not all of these initiatives were solely championed by women, but I do think the diversity has created an atmosphere where empathy and equity are core tenets and both women and men feel more comfortable pitching innovative ideas. 

What advice do you have for other women considering serving on a board or commission?

My biggest advice is: DO IT. There is no one more qualified than YOU. Boards and commissions need real people with all sorts of experiences to serve, in order to best represent the needs of the community. My second piece of advice: spend the first part of your service watching, listening, asking questions about history or context of staff (staff is there to help you!) – – then start leaning in hard. Have the humility to know that your good idea might have been thought of already, and give some respect to those who have served before you. But couple that with the confidence that you belong there, your ideas are awesome, and your community is lucky to have you there. 

Is there anything you wish you’d known going in? 

I wish I would have been prepared better, mentally, for the emotional toll that my current board service would have on me. It’s not a bad thing, but it is sometimes a draining thing. The drain means that even after these 4 years of serving, I still care. I wish I had known it’s hard to compromise sometimes, when you know you are right and the stakes feel really high.

What do you see as some of the barriers that cause women to be underrepresented in these roles? 

My hunch is that a big barrier is the established networks that tend to appoint buddies or colleagues or fraternity brothers. The Women’s Foundation has disrupted those networks. I think there is also a barrier of logistics — the time it takes to serve and the times that meetings are held. But the more women who serve, the more we can get board cultures to reflect the need to juggle work-life, home-life and board-life. 

Why is it important that women step up to serve in these roles?

In addition to the culture change that can happen when more women serve, the people served by the board deserve to have their needs reflected. For example, on my board, how intimidating might it be for a female physician to appear before an all-male board in an already stressful situation? Conversely, it is important for male physicians accused of inappropriate behavior with female patients or staff to hear perspective from a woman on the board. Everyone benefits when the viewpoints are diverse, not just from a gender perspective, but on all levels. I hope that gender equity is just one part of a larger march towards parity by race, class and experience. 

How has your work changed amid Covid-19?  

As president of the Physician Licensing Board, Covid-19 has really affected our work. In addition to having to move meetings to a remote situation (harder than it might sound when you have public appearances and Sunshine Law!), there have been many policy tradeoffs to consider when it comes to keeping people safe. Because a lot of those discussions are ongoing, I can’t say much more, but it’s definitely a crazy time to be in this position. 

Women’s Foundation Hails Passage of Military Licensing Reciprocity in Missouri

Research Shows Easing Licensing Requirements Benefits Women

KANSAS CITY – Pointing to research showing state licensing requirements have a disproportionate impact on women, Women’s Foundation today hailed Governor Parson's signing of HB 1511 and HB 1452, which would allow military spouses to move to Missouri without losing their professional licenses from other states. 

“Moving across state lines shouldn’t mean losing your ability to earn a living, but that’s the reality many families face as a result of a patchwork of burdensome and unnecessary licensing requirements,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO.  “Our research shows that when professional licensing requirements can’t be transferred from state-to-state, women and military families bear the brunt. We thank Governor Parson and bill sponsors Reps. Steve Lynch and Nick Schroer for their commitment to helping Missouri military families unlock their economic potential and easing the harmful barriers that hold them back.” 

Women’s Foundation research found that: 

• Families are more likely to relocate for a man’s profession and that relocation for a man’s career tends to improve his career development, but impair a woman’s career development.

• In the US, in 2015, employed women were more likely to hold a certification or license than employed men (28.1% and 23.2%, respectively). 

• The occupations in which workers have the highest likelihood of having a certification or license were healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (76.9 %), legal occupations (68.1 %), and education, training, and library occupations (55.5%). Many of these are women-dominated professions. 

• Women are more likely to fill jobs in human service type occupations, like teaching, managers or nursing professions, which have more geographic flexibility than male dominated professions like engineers or scientists. Because occupations traditionally held by women have a wider array of locations than traditionally male-dominated jobs, women are more likely to move for their partner’s profession.

In 2018, the Women’s Foundation worked with the General Assembly to pass SB 843, which waived licensing fees for military families and low-income Missourians. 

The Women’s Foundation also supported passage of legislation to allow those seeking to pursue a career in hair braiding to complete an online video and obtain a certificate of registration. Previously, hair braiders had to complete over 1,000 hours of training for a cosmetology license, even though the training did not include hair braiding skills.

Click here to see the Women’s Foundation’s full research report on occupational licensing

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Women’s Foundation President and CEO Wendy Doyle issued the following statement on the launch of Kansas’ Hero Relief Program:

“The Women’s Foundation applauds Governor Kelly and Secretary Howard for launching the Hero Relief Program, which will increase access to affordable childcare for thousands of women serving their communities on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. In Kansas, much like the rest of the country, women represent the majority of essential workers we rely upon for health care and necessary services such as nurses, technicians, grocery and food service workers. Women truly are keeping our communities going during this crisis, and thanks to initiatives like the Hero Relief Program, they can focus on their work and families without the fear of not being able to afford childcare.”

Women’s Foundation Launches Interactive Online Dashboard Demonstrating Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Women in Missouri and Kansas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Laura Swinford, 314-856-2799, laura@gpsimpact.com 

KANSAS CITY – The Women’s Foundation and MySidewalk today released new state-specific data and an interactive online dashboard demonstrating how women in Missouri and Kansas are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is calling for policy solutions including paid family and medical leave, gender pay equity, and occupational licensing reform that will mitigate the effects of this crisis on women and families while protecting public health and strengthening the economy.

The dashboard was built by mySidewalk, a Kansas City-based city intelligence software company and is available online at: www.womens-foundation.org/COVID-data  

“This data tells the story of how women in Missouri and Kansas will be especially hard hit by this virus and its economic impacts,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “Women make up the majority of family caregivers, health care workers, and service-sector employees – putting them on the frontlines of this pandemic and its economic fallout. These numbers underscore the urgent need for proven solutions like guaranteed paid family and medical leave, gender pay equity, and reduced red tape for small business owners. As policymakers continue to manage the immediate effects of this crisis and develop solutions to mitigating its devastating economic impact, prioritizing the needs of women and families will be critical to our recovery.”

Among the key findings: 

• In Missouri and Kansas, nearly 8 in 10 healthcare professionals are women, slightly higher than the national average. Nationwide, women make up 75.3% of the healthcare workforce. In Missouri and Kansas, the percentage rises to 77.7% and 77.8% respectively. 

• Despite being the foundation of our healthcare response to the coronavirus, women are still paid less than men in many healthcare occupations. For example, women registered nurses in Missouri and Kansas make just 77 cents and 80 cents, respectively, for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. 

• Women in Missouri and Kansas also make up a majority of the service-sector employees that are being hit hard by the economic fallout of the virus. While women are 56.4% of all service-sector workers in the U.S. overall, that number rises to 57.7% in Missouri and 59.2% in Kansas. 

• Missouri has a higher share of women-owned small business owners than the national average. Women own 8.6% of firms nationwide, but 10.1% in Missouri and 7.6% in Kansas. 

• In Missouri and Kansas, 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 families, respectively, are single mother households. 

• Women in both states are less likely to be uninsured than men with 9 percent of women in Missouri and 8.3 percent of women in Kansas lacking health insurance.

Key policy recommendations:

• Paid family and medical leave: Paid family and medical leave would allow people to take time off to care for a child or loved-one, or seek treatment for an illness, without sacrificing their income. The Women’s Foundation, which helped secure paid parental leave to more than 100,000 state employees in Missouri and Kansas, is advocating for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave at 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers.
  

• Gender pay equity: The gender pay gap makes women even more vulnerable to economic downturns because they are paid less than their male counterparts. The Women’s Foundation advocates for salary history bans and funds free pay negotiation workshops through AAUW to help close the pay gap and promote equal pay for equal work.
  

• Occupational licensing reform: The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the need for professional licenses to be more transferable and flexible, especially for medical professionals. The Women’s Foundation research has found that occupational licensing, while intended to protect the safety and well-being of the public, can often create unnecessary barriers for women entrepreneurs by restricting entry and re-entry into professions, reducing employment, and creating economic inequity. 

Today’s report builds on previous research the Women’s Foundation has conducted in both Missouri and Kansas on the challenges and disparities facing women in both states. As part of its mission to use research and data to inform solutions and get results for women and families, the Women’s Foundation has commissioned numerous studies to identify areas of concern for women that require policy solutions.

For more information visit: http://www.womens-foundation.org/research  

About the Women’s Foundation 

The Women’s Foundation’s mission 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.

About mySidewalk

mySidewalk is a city intelligence platform that helps analysts track, analyze, and communicate progress on department and community-wide goals. Their mission is to empower city leaders and the public with the most complete, clear, and real-time understanding of community data so they can improve and innovate together. You work hard for your data. What’s it doing for you? To learn more, visit the mySidewalk home page.

Changemaker Profile: Angel Zimmerman

Angel Zimmerman is managing partner at Zimmerman & Zimmerman, P.A. who was appointed to serve on the Topeka Downtown Business Improvement District Advisory Board through the Appointments Project.

What does the Topeka Downtown Business Improvement Advisory Board do? 

The purpose of the board is to monitor and oversee services provided pursuant to the business improvement district act. We survey downtown residents and businesses, advise on the district assessments, review growth opportunities and purchase items that would be beneficial for the district.

What inspired you to apply to serve on a civic board or commission?

I went to an Appointments Project presentation given by the Women’s Foundation at the Kansas Women Attorney Association’s annual conference. I was introduced to Women’s Foundation Vice President Kendall Seal and then their President & CEO Wendy Doyle and they thought I would be able to use my connections to help other women. 

When I received a call from the board asking if I would consider serving, I decided that this was a great opportunity to not only be an advocate but also serve in a leadership capacity myself. I was able to be Topeka’s first Appointments Project appointee.

Is there anything that’s surprised you? Or a challenge you didn’t anticipate?

I was surprised that an interview with the Mayor was not hard and that regular people, like me, can serve. There are challenges of not knowing the history of a board but because it is government I think it is actually easier to learn the organizational history than it is for some private and non-profit organizations. 

What’s the current gender makeup of your board? How does having (or lacking) diversity impact the effectiveness of the board?  

While there are still meetings where I am the only female at times, it is a very inclusive board and all members’ voices are heard. I own a downtown business and also a downtown building, so I have a personal stake and a familiarity with the issues we address. 

The board is a good mix of small business owners, and the large corporations are very aware of not overburdening small business and wanting to encourage smaller enterprises. This was an easier first board to be on because I was a known quantity to everyone and I also knew several board members.    

Is there a particular decision, moment, or policy that has been noteworthy during your time?

One of the policies we advocated for was specifically complimented in a City Council meeting, which was exciting to see. 

It was also rewarding to be able to raise concerns about unintended consequences and help shape the decision we ultimately made.

It is nice to have moments that you know it was your voice that impacted a policy direction and the time you gave up made a difference in your community.   

What advice do you have for other women considering serving on a board or commission?

A great quote I love to share is “Go and Do, Don’t Sit and Stew.” You are needed, so please, please, please volunteer.  

Is there anything you wish you’d known going in?

I do wish I knew Robert’s rules more than I do. Not for this board but I think if I would be more comfortable with those it would be easier to volunteer more places.   

What do you see as some of the barriers that cause women to be underrepresented in these roles?

Thinking that these are all highly specialized boards that require specific degrees and expertise or thinking a board thinks we have expertise when we don’t. I also think women like to serve where we are needed – and use our time wisely – so it’s important to have programs like the Appointments Project that proactively ask women to serve. 

Appointments Project® Celebrates Bonnie Limbird, Appointed to The Kansas State Technical Professions

Bonnie Limbird is an interior designer at SFS Architecture in Kansas City, a 2018 AIA Firm of the Year. She is a registered interior designer in the state of Missouri, certified LEED AP and NCIDQ, and professional member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA). She has served as president of the local Mid-America IIDA chapter as well as the PTA, as a steering committee member of the Centurions Leadership Program, and as a board member for the Friends of the Johnson County Library and the Girls Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri. Bonnie is currently a city council member for the City of Prairie Village, Kansas, a member of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, and business manager for the local Girl Scouts Day Camp.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law, providing two weeks of paid leave for many workers, additional food aid to low-income pregnant women and mothers, unemployment benefits, and free coronavirus testing.

While this is a step in the right direction, we still have a long way to go, and Congress is already working on additional legislation to mitigate the impact of this crisis and keep families afloat during this difficult time. 

The Women’s Foundation is calling for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave with 100 percent pay for all part-time and full-time workers to best protect the physical and financial health of families and communities. 

The work we’ve accomplished together to empower women economically has never been more important. The Women’s Foundation has been working persistently with elected officials for paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, and flexible work recommendations for emergencies that disproportionately impact women -- just like COVID-19. 

Amid these challenging times, we will continue to fight for you. And with news and needs changing daily, we want to know the best way to do that. Take our survey to let us know how we should keep working for you >> 

Thank you for being our partners in good and difficult times. We will get through this together. That’s what women do.

Women’s Foundation Urges Employers to Offer Paid Family and Medical Leave to Assist Working Families During Coronavirus Outbreak

President and CEO Wendy Doyle says paid leave will help workers and their families survive financial crisis during nation’s response to COVID-19

KANSAS CITY, MO -- Women’s Foundation President and CEO Wendy Doyle issued the following statement in response to the coronavirus crisis:

As the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has quickly become a part of our everyday lives, and continues to imperil public health, it is vital that employers and policymakers take action now to protect the physical and financial health of families and communities.

While we're armed with resources to increase our chances of remaining healthy, there is one thing we could be doing right now to ensure the health and resilience of our economy: paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave for all workers.

It's critical for workers to take time off to care for a sick relative, care for a child, or to rest and take care of themselves when ill -- all without fear of retribution and/or missing paychecks and falling into a financial crisis.

We know paid leave works, and we know there are proven policies that organizations in the public and private sectors can implement now that will help safeguard our health and save families--and our communities--from financial collapse. 

We strongly encourage all employers – in both the public and private sector – who currently do not offer paid family and medical leave to consider the following best practices and guidelines for rapid implementation:

Women’s Foundation Recommendation for paid family and medical leave

• 12 weeks with 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers

• Provide paid family and medical leave immediately upon hire of the employee

Women’s Foundation Recommendation for paid sick leave

• 7 paid sick days with 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers

  • In the event of a public health emergency, provide for an additional 7 days paid sick days (total of 14 days) with 100% pay for all part-time and full-time workers. 

• Provide sick days immediately upon hire of the employee

The Women’s Foundation’s mission 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.

Wendy Doyle for The Kansas City Star: Coronavirus highlights the dangers of keeping sick workers on the job

The growing threat from the coronavirus is a stark reminder of how America’s failure to give workers the flexibility to take paid time off puts public health at risk.

One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious disease is for people who are sick not to go to work. In fact, staying home is the No. 1 recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for preventing the spread of flu and other communicable diseases in the workplace.

But for millions of Americans, staying home means sacrificing income they cannot afford to lose. Expanding access to paid sick days is one important solution — but we also can’t forget that millions of workers still lack paid family and medical leave.

The United States remains the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t guarantee its citizens the ability to take longer-term leave to care for a child or family member, or to treat a serious illness. Today, only 17% of civilian workers in the U.S. have access to paid family leave.

Without question, recent years have seen progress toward adopting more family-friendly workplace policies. Elected officials in both Missouri and Kansas have answered our call to expand paid parental leave to nearly all state employees, giving more than 100,000 people the ability to care for a newborn or adopted child without taking a hit to their paycheck. More and more companies in the private sector are following suit because they recognize that offering paid leave is good business.

Unfortunately, this progress isn’t shared evenly. Low-income, part-time and hourly workers are increasingly being left behind. Ninety-three percent of low-wage workers and 94% of part-time workers lack any access to paid family leave. This has a disproportionate impact on women, who are more likely to hold part-time jobs.

In addition to putting families in the impossible position of having to choose between their health and their paycheck, the lack of paid family leave also puts the health of the broader community at risk. Service industry workers such as waiters, shop clerks and bank tellers may come into contact with hundreds of customers a day, exponentially increasing the risk of infection.

This is a dangerous and preventable circumstance that could be addressed by expanding paid family and medical leave to all workers. It offers enormous benefits for our economy, our families and our health — for about the minimal cost of a cup of coffee a week per person.

Workers could get treatment or stay home with an illness without the stress of worrying it could jeopardize their job security. Parents would be able to spend more time bonding with newborns, which is shown to improve overall health and well-being. And Americans in the so-called “sandwich generation” would be able to care for elderly family members without sacrificing their income.

Paid leave offers significant benefits to businesses as well. The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers concluded in 2014 that paid family and medical leave programs can improve long-term productivity by boosting recruitment, retention and employee motivation. Plus, every dollar we put into the pockets of hardworking families is a dollar that strengthens our economy and supports neighborhood small businesses.

For officials worried about the size of government, paid family and medical leave has been shown to increase financial independence and reduce reliance on public assistance. One study found that women who take paid family leave are 39% less likely to receive public assistance or food stamps in the year following a child’s birth, compared to women who take no leave.

If we want people to make safer choices for their own health and the health of their community, we need to make it easier for people to stay home without sacrificing their income or job security.

The coronavirus is a prime example of how we all have a stake in the effort to make the workplace healthier and more humane for everyone. Let’s not wait until the next pandemic scare to make the right decision for our families, businesses and communities. The time for nationwide paid family and medical leave is now.

Wendy Doyle is president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation in Kansas City.