Pressure builds to offer paid family leave. (Health Policy).(Brief Article)

"Employers already dealing with the cost and burden of administering the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may face yet another complication: paid family leave.

Spurred in part by a 1999 proposal by President Clinton to expand the FMLA, paid family benefit bills were proposed in at least 26 state legislatures last year. Several proposals also were made in Congress.

Most of these proposals lost their momentum because of the sluggish economy. But they are expected to be revived as the economy improves, say some observers, who warn this is an issue with which employers will contend for years to come.

Advocates of paid family leave say the 12 weeks of …