Time Matters Indiana Coalition

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At some point, nearly ever worker will need time off to care for their own health, to welcome a new baby, or to care for a loved one with significant health-related needs. Yet in the United States, paid family and medical leave remain relatively uncommon discretionary benefits, with an estimated 21% of civilian workers in Indiana receiving paid family leave from their employers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023).

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) - which is currently the only major law governing access to leave in Indiana - provides only unpaid family and medical leave and it only applies to employers with at least fifty employees and workers who can meet longevity and hour thresholds, restrictions that exclude more than 40% of U.S. workers (U.S. Department of Labor, 2018). A significant share of those who are eligible cannot afford to take an extended time off work without pay; in Indiana, only 36% of adult workers are estimated to be both eligible for and able to afford to take FMLA (Diversitykidsdata.org, 2024).

Taking four weeks of unpaid leave leads to an average loss of over $2,900, forcing many families to choose between economic and health/familial well-being. To illustrate, Healthier Moms and Babies of Fort Wayne, Indiana (2023) found that of the 1,000 women they surveyed, 26% of women in Fort Wayne went back to work at 5-8 weeks postpartum, 13% at 2-4 weeks and 4% at less than 2 weeks. Because so many Hoosiers lack access to paid family and medical leave, our federal lawmakers need to act to support their well-being. You can learn more about PFML on our informal fact sheet, or via any of the publications below. 

The Time Matters Indiana Coalition is a group of advocates, organizations, and stakeholders who believe in the common mission of expanding access to paid family leave in Indiana. If you would like to share your story around Paid Family and Medical Leave, check out our Action Network. If you are interested in joining this coalition, please email [email protected] with a brief statement of interest and submit a request to join our Google group listserv. 

Reports and Policy Briefs

Fact Sheet: Paid Family and Medical Leave 

The Time Matters Coalition, coordinated by the Institute, has produced a fact sheet covering the basics of what Paid Family and Medical Leave is, why it matters, and how it helps our families and thrive. The key takeaway: PFML is not a zero-sum policy. We all benefit with the implementation of such policies.

November 2024 | Download the PDF

  

Wages, Wealth, & Poverty: Where Hoosier Women Stand & Ways Our State Can Close the Gaps

Hoosier women earn less, own less, and experience poverty more often than men. Suggested state policy solutions would address the gaps by giving women the tools to combat pay discrimination, resolving caregiver-worker tensions, improving equity in education, and giving Hoosier women a raise.

December 2017 | Download PDF | Learn More

 Presentations

Testimony and Comments 

  • Letter to the United States Senate, Advocating for the FAMILY Act to support and uplift Hoosier families, Signed by the Institute, September 16, 2025 | PDF
  • Testimony before the Public Health Interim Committee, Highlighting the need for paid family leave to improve postpartum health outcomes, Presented by Erin Macey, August 26, 2025 | PDF and Handouts: U.S. Comparison | Cost Modeling
  • Testimony Before the House Committee on Employment, Labor, and Pensions, Supporting SB 409: excused absences for case conferences, Presented by Ashley Phillips, April 2, 2025 | PDF
  • Testimony Before Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor, Supporting SB 409, Allowing Employee Absence for Certain Meetings, Presented by Erin Macey, January 30, 2025 | PDF
  • Comment to the Bipartisan Congressional Paid Family Leave Working Group, Addressing the potential benefits of federal action and considerations for a federal response, Coordinated by Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute Staff, January 30, 2024 | PDF
  • Comment to the Bipartisan Congressional Paid Family Leave Working Group, Addressing the potential benefits of federal action and considerations for a federal response, Coordinated by Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute Staff, January 30, 2024 | PDF