Living United for Change in Arizona Celebrates Gov. Hobbs’ Announcement to Support Arizona’s Working Families and Create an Equitable and Competitive Workplace
PHOENIX - Today, Gov. Hobbs’ Department of Administration announced its official Paid Parental Leave Pilot Program for state employees. This program is the first of its kind for state employees in Arizona, and will provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to eligible employees following the birth of a child, or the new placement of a foster or adoptive child in the home occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2023.
“This is amazing news from a Governor who has admirably fought for our families from day one," said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of Living United for Change in Arizona. “Since the passage of Prop. 206 in 2016, LUCHA has advocated for paid leave for all workers to take care of their families and their loved ones, and this is a monumental step in the right direction for state employees. We're very happy on this day to stand by the Governor in the implementation of this policy and other People First priorities, and we will continue onward advocating for all Arizonans to have access to PFML.”
For years, LUCHA has advocated for our Republican-controlled State Legislature to bring Paid Family Leave to Arizona. Eighty percent of workers in Arizona do not have access to Paid Leave, with communities of color disproportionately impacted. Year after year, LUCHA works tirelessly with Democratic lawmakers to introduce Paid Leave for All legislation (HB2130/SB1568) and brings community members to the Capitol to share their real-life stories of having to choose between taking the leave they need or keeping their job. Despite the pressing need for a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave program for all workers, these bills have never received even a hearing.
“Latinx families make up more than a third of state and local government workforces and are disproportionately impacted by lack of access to paid leave,” Gomez continued. “The Hobbs administration is setting a model standard for all of the state’s employers by prioritizing policies that empower our workforces. Paid Family Leave provides workers with more flexibility and offers employers significant benefits such as increased retention rates. We’re looking forward to working with the Hobbs administration to make Paid Family Leave accessible for Arizona’s entire workforce.”
For more information on this, you can go to: https://hr.az.gov/family-leave-expansion
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