“Workers’ Voices” is a series on A Better Balance’s blog highlighting the firsthand experiences of workers from across the country. For some workers we are in touch with, they are covered by federal, state, or local workplace protections that make a world of difference in their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones. For others, their experiences highlight the glaring gaps that remain in our laws.
The below is a story from Ben, a Community Advocate with A Better Balance.
My name is Ben and I am a manufacturing manager. My wife, daughter, and I live in Ohio. Here in Ohio, many people provide for their families by working in the manufacturing sector. The nature of the job sometimes calls for being ready to respond to anything in the manufacturing process at any time of the day. However, what are you to do when life happens and you need to be away?
My wife has a rare neurological condition called Neurofibromatosis type two. This condition often results in tumors developing anywhere in the body. Tumors in the brain and spine mean surgery for removal, with recovery time sometimes taking weeks. These are weeks that people in manufacturing often aren’t able to take off work, even if they’ve been with their companies for decades.
“The stress of making sure your child comes into this world safely should not be coupled with the stress of making sure you budgeted enough money to care for them.”
Last year we were fortunate enough to have a beautiful baby girl. After a difficult and expensive journey to parenthood, I was granted unpaid paternity leave under the FMLA. The stress of making sure your child comes into this world safely should not be coupled with the stress of making sure you budgeted enough money to care for them.
After eight weeks of unpaid leave, we were strapped for funds to care for our daughter. I had no choice but to call my company’s 401k firm and see if I could withdraw funds to stay afloat during the four additional weeks of leave I wanted to take. No person in America should have to choose between having less money for retirement and taking time off to care for their family.
After learning that withdrawing from my 401k would not be penalty free I had no choice but to cut my time short and return to work. Access to paid family and medical leave would have been a lifeline for my family during this time, and everybody deserves this right so they aren’t forced to choose between staying afloat financially, and being there for their families when it matters most.