Paid When It Matters
Workers Deserve Timely Benefits, Because Bills Don't Wait
We are building a Black worker-led campaign to address disparities in the California social-safety net programs.
Black Maternal Health and Black Workers:
How We Got Here
The SDBWC began working in the maternal health space by conducting focus groups and a survey of Black mothers and birthgivers to understand the connections between maternal health and workers’ rights. Our study highlighted the severe gaps in the resources provided to working Mothers and birthgivers. Since pregnancy, birth, and postpartum creates the unique situation in which workers can access two worker-funded CA paid leave programs for financial support, we decided this was a critical worker justice issue.
SBDWC found that oftentimes working mothers and birth-givers are forced to return to work far before they are ready because they do not receive sufficient supplemental income in a timely manner. Black working mothers are the least likely to use paid leave.
“My daughter was born on February 12, 2023. I did not get my first payment until June of 2023.”
Unfortunately CA Paid Leave systems are failing Black workers!
Paid Leave, Broken System
Maternal Health is a worker justice issue due to uneven access to medical insurance, paid leave, and significant racial disparities in medical care.
“The state tried to deny my disability, so I didn’t get my benefits for months from the state. They had rejected my claim, and I had to appeal the denial.”
Paid Family Leave (PFL): Paid leave for workers who have lost wages due to: bonding with a child, caring for an ill relative, or supporting military deployment
State Disability Insurance (SDI): Paid leave for workers unable to work short-term due to a non-work related illness or disability
Both PFL & SDI are funded through taxes taken out of workers checks, eligibility is determined from contributions during the previous 12-18 months.
“The moral story is they didn’t educate us on how you can get a longer leave using CA paid leave systems without feeling like your livelihood is threatened.”
Additionally, workers far beyond the pregnancy context are severely impacted by gaps within California Paid Family Leave & State Disability Insurance systems. Although California has some of the most progressive social safety-net programs, these programs fail to provide the necessary stability needed to properly heal from illness or medical needs, care for, and/or bond with new family members.
The examples below highlight how income inequality and racism increase health disparities:
Workers are forced to undergo a mandatory unpaid seven day waiting period before receiving benefits.
Workers can only submit claims after their leave begins, leaving them without pay. Processing delays force workers to miss even more pay.
The EDD can take up to 3 weeks to process a claim after it’s filed, and many applicants reported longer delays with processing their payments.
Paid When It Matter Campaign: Where We Are Now
Goals:
Drive statewide policy reform to make CA Social Safety Net Systems more accessible for low-wage workers
Support Black workers trying to navigate the current system by providing guidance and educational resources to reduce the knowledge gap.
Ensure Black mothers & birthgivers have adequate time to heal before returning to work
Our goal is to build a Black worker-led campaign to address disparities in the California social safety net programs. A campaign led by Black workers and addressing the needs of Black workers will make the system work better for all workers.
“My PFL was denied so I had to wait another five weeks, after I redid the paperwork, to actually get my benefits. There was a whole two and a half month gap that I didn’t get paid, and I was the breadwinner at the time.”
Paid Leave Updates Across the United States
SB 1090 was passed in September 2024 to allow workers to apply for PFL and SDI benefits up to 30 days before their leave and requires EDD to issue payment within 14 days. Currently this system is not operative and is expected to be completed in 2031.