​New parents who work in the Los Rios Community College District should not have to choose between caring for their children or maintaining an income. Nor should families who are caring for a loved one (including parents and partners) face this unjust dilemma. The current LRCCD family leave policy creates financial hardship, anxiety, and family stress for many of its employees. The burden of caring for newborns and critically ill/injured family members disproportionately impacts women, part-time employees, and employees without significant financial means to take unpaid leave.

The current policy can and must change. Major family events should not be decided by an outdated policy that especially harms our most vulnerable coworkers. We need a family leaves policy that protects the quality of education for students, one that allows faculty to take enough time off so as not to interrupt students' classroom experience. We are asking for a semester-long paid family leave policy that does not require us to drain our sick leave.​