In South Carolina, when a new baby is born, a loved one is seriously ill, or a parent needs care, most workers are forced to make an impossible choice: go without a paycheck—or go without showing up for their family.

That’s because South Carolina has no statewide paid family leave policy. And relying on voluntary programs isn’t working. Only a fraction of employers offer paid leave, and most low-wage, hourly, and part-time workers—especially women—are left behind.

We’re calling on Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina General Assembly to create a mandatory, statewide paid family and medical leave program that:

• Guarantees at least 12 weeks of job-protected, paid leave for all workers
• Covers birth, adoption, caregiving, and serious health needs
• Applies to every worker, regardless of income or employer size
• Is sustainably funded through a shared contribution model, as other states have done successfully
   

Other states are doing it. Families are demanding it. And South Carolina’s workers deserve it.

Please sign this petition if you believe no one should lose their income for caring for a loved one. South Carolina needs paid family leave—for all, not just the fortunate few.