Paid family leave laws lacking in Michigan as access expands elsewhere

Paid family leave is still not mandated in Michigan, but new laws across the country are expanding access to benefits for expecting and new parents.

Why it matters: Such programs are crucial to reducing the stress and financial burden of juggling a newborn with work responsibilities.

The big picture: The U.S. offers 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid family leave for some employees but doesn't have a paid federal parental leave policy.

• Meanwhile, most countries guarantee paid maternity and paternity leave .

Driving the news: Paid leave laws are set to go into effect in 2026 in Delaware, Maine, Maryland and Minnesota.

The latest: Pregnant people are now entitled to " reasonable accommodations " like the ability to telework and take time off for health care appointments, thanks to the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act .

• And because of the federal PUMP Act , breastfeeding parents are entitled to break time and a private place to pump (that's not a bathroom).

What they're saying: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year called on state lawmakers to create a program offering paid family and medical leave, per the Detroit News .

Yes, but: Business organizations raised concerns that a new tax could be needed to pay for it.

Between the lines: Without statewide requirements, there are two main ways to get wage replacement in Michigan during parental leave, and they can be combined:

• Through an employer, but only about 27% of Americans working in the private sector have access to this, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Women's Bureau. State government employees may be eligible for 12 weeks of paid leave , although the program does not apply to adoption of a child over age 6 or of children related by blood or marriage.
• From short-term disability, if you're a birthing parent. Workers have the option to purchase short-term disability insurance as an add-on before they're pregnant.

Go deeper: How to determine your paid family leave plan