Two recent studies released this week highlight both progress and shortfalls in Arkansas’ paid family and medical leave landscape. The reports, produced by the nonprofit Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America and the advocacy group Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, find that while a growing share of parents are using paid leave when it is offered, the majority of Arkansas employers still do not provide company‑funded parental leave.
Employer participation remains low
The Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies white paper surveyed 1,003 businesses across Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi and Nebraska. In Arkansas, only 15.5% of respondents said they offer paid parental leave, a figure that mirrors the 16% reported in Mississippi and trails the 27.3% in Illinois and 28.6% in Nebraska.
Among the Arkansas firms that responded, more than two‑thirds (66%) were small businesses with fewer than ten employees, suggesting that size may be a barrier to adopting paid‑leave policies.
Parents are taking advantage when leave is available
Focus‑group data gathered by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, as well as a parent survey from the Healthy Moms study, reveal a notable increase in leave usage among recent parents. For children born between 2022 and 2026, 42% of fathers and 35% of mothers reported using employer‑provided paid parental leave. Those with children born between 2008 and 2013 reported much lower usage rates—15% of fathers and 11% of mothers.
Economist Emily Oster, lead researcher on the Healthy Moms study, attributes the higher father participation to greater labor‑force involvement and evolving gender norms that influence job choices and benefit availability.
Potential economic upside
The research estimates that a modest 10% rise in retention of female employees—driven by more generous family‑leave policies—could generate roughly $9.5 million per year for Arkansas employers. Savings would stem from reduced hiring, training and productivity costs associated with turnover.
Survey respondents who have already implemented paid leave reported outcomes that were “more positive than people expected,” suggesting that exposure to successful programs can shift employer attitudes and encourage broader adoption.
State policy context
Arkansas currently lacks a comprehensive statewide mandatory paid family and medical leave law. The state relies on the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job‑protected leave for eligible workers. Since 2023, state employees have been eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, and a 2025 bill extended that benefit to public and charter‑school staff. No comparable paternal leave policy exists for private‑sector workers.
Oster and co‑author Rebecca Jack, an economics graduate student at the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln, argue that “progress is possible without statewide mandates” and that employer culture can be reshaped through information sharing and peer learning.
What families say
Participants in the focus groups—drawn from Fayetteville, Texarkana, Helena‑West Helena and online sessions with nurses and teachers—described paid leave as a basic support needed during childbirth, caregiving and illness. Many families rely on unpaid FMLA, short‑term disability, unemployment benefits or personal savings, and some reported unsafe childcare arrangements when leave is unavailable.
These findings underscore a clear demand for more consistent paid‑leave options across Arkansas workplaces, especially for small businesses that dominate the local economy.
Path forward
Oster suggests that employers can promote a leave‑friendly culture by sharing experiences with peers, highlighting positive outcomes, and creating competitive pressure that encourages other firms to adopt similar policies. As more companies offer paid leave, employees may begin to prioritize jobs with such benefits, further expanding coverage.
Policymakers, business leaders and community advocates are urged to consider these data points as Arkansas continues to evaluate how best to support families while maintaining a vibrant, competitive economy.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
