You’ll hear opponents of paid family leave bemoan the costs. Leaving aside the fact that family leave insurance strengthens families, promotes early learning and public health, and bolsters our state’s commitment to giving every child a strong and healthy start in life, such arguments also ignore the fact that paid family leave can actually save public money.

For example, new research proves that a “dose” of hands-on health care training can transform parents’ abilities to care for common childhood ailments at home — and save Medicaid millions of dollars annually.

Of course, it’s tricky to care for your children at home when you have to be at work. Nationally, only 8 percent of private sector workers receive paid family leave. Fewer than half (46%) of Washington’s employers offer paid sick leave, and 1 in 4 do not offer paid vacation to their full-time employees. Most part-time workers get no paid leave at all.

Family leave insurance updates workplace standards to serve today’s families, simple as that.