Financial Considerations for Paid Family Leave in New Hampshire

Paid family leave is a major issue that has gained prominence in the past electoral cycles, with both President Obama and President Trump supporting paid leave programs at the federal level.[i] Currently, there is no national program providing paid family leave to workers, but four states now offer coverage, and paid leave is part of benefit packages at many companies. As of 2016, approximately 14 percent of civilian workers had access to paid family leave, a striking contrast to many other developed nations that provide paid leave on a national level. Paid family leave programs have wide ranging benefits, from increasing job stability to reducing dependence on government programs and improving child development. However, providing paid leave generally requires levying a payroll tax, and education and administrative costs can be hurdles to achieving a successful program. This report will focus on the impact of paid family leave programs, the results of existing programs in the United States, and the logistics of implementing such a program in New Hampshire.