What savings will the Working Families Time to Care Act produce?
Providing working people with paid time off to deal with family health crisis, and to care for new children will provide cost savings in a number of areas. Having a family member at home to care for people leaving the hospital allows for shorter hospital stays Having a family member at home to care for people recovering from the most acute stage of an illness reduces the demand for nursing home and paid in-home care Making it possible for people to take time off when they absolutely must reduces unplanned absenteeism, presenteeism ( where workers come to their workplace but work with reduced productivity because of distractions, and other demands on their time ), and the costs of turnover In the absence of an adequate paid family leave program, working people who have no alternative but to take time off often must depend on public assistance programs, including TANF, food stamps, etc.
