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WELLESLEY, Mass., April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. has expanded the availability of its Family Leave Insurance (FLI) offering to now include Arizona, Wyoming and Pennsylvania, with additional states poised for later this year. This brings the total number of states where Sun Life offers its fully insured paid family leave coverage to 14, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. FLI broadens workers' access to paid leave, giving employers the option to easily provide a valuable benefit to their employees when there isn't a state-mandated program in place. Sun Life has long been an advocate for paid leave, working with state legislatures to include a private plan option alongside mandated programs and supporting legislative proposals that would extend the employer federal paid leave tax credit. Sun Life FLI aligns with the current tax credit and will align with changes in the future.
"While the Family and Medical Leave Act provides unpaid leave up to 12 weeks, many employees have the difficult decision of whether they can afford to take time off to tend to their families," said Joi Tillman, president, Group Benefits, Sun Life U.S. "With FLI, employers can choose to offer paid family leave benefits in a structure that aligns with their business and gives their employees a valuable benefit. We believe no one should have to choose between their job and caring for a loved one."
Sun Life FLI is built with decades of disability leave management and return-to-work expertise. The benefit fills a substantial gap for employers in states without government programs, and is available to all eligible employees regardless of the state they work in. Sun Life FLI is offered as fully insured coverage, helping small and mid-size employers offer the benefit without the risk of self-funding. Sun Life also administers private paid family and medical leave (PFML) in many states that have mandated programs.
"FLI contributes to economic growth by attracting more workers to these regions and supporting the return-to-work process for those who go on leave," said Sheila Sokolski, vice president, Product Strategy and Portfolio Management, Sun Life U.S. "FLI also gives employers a powerful tool for talent recruitment and retention, as more professionals seek a robust benefits offering when considering jobs."
With Sun Life FLI, employees get the benefit of Sun Life's online claims submission, and employers can track employees' leave details, supporting overall health and productivity management. A recording of Sun Life's recent webinar on FLI can be found here.