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Sen. Kay Hagan, Democrat of North Carolina, chairs a U.S. Senate subcommittee on Children and Families, and she called a hearing this week to spotlight the issue of paid leave for family members who have children or care for others. As it stands, the Family and Medical Leave Act guarantees only unpaid leave for births, adoptions and having to care for sick family members.

The truth is, that's not a smart move for business. If workers have a crisis and their only option is to simply not get paid, it doesn't build loyalty. That worker may go elsewhere once the unpaid maternity leave or sick leave for a family member is over. The business saved a few bucks, but lost much more.

Hagan used her hearing as a forum to boost the idea of paid leave. "When workers are offered paid family leave," Hagan said, "moms, dads, kids, businesses and the economy as a whole are all better off."

To read the full article on the Raleigh News and Observer's website, please click here.