(Bloomberg) -- A group of 203 faculty members at top U.S.business schools signed a letter Tuesday urging Congress toexpand protections that would offer paid family and sick leave toanyone with a job.

The faculty members cite research and sound businesspractices, as well as "our experiences teaching the businessleaders of tomorrow," to explain their demand that "the UnitedStates must adopt a national paid family and medical leavepolicy."

The letter asks Congress to consider the Family and MedicalInsurance Leave Act, or "Family" Act, proposed legislationthat would establish a basic paid-leave standard for allworkers.

It argues that young professionals delay starting familiesor opt out altogether because balancing parenting and work hasbecome too difficult.

"The business school community was missing from the debate,"says Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership forWomen & Families, the advocacy group behind theletter.

Only 13 percent of workers in the U.S. have access to paidfamily leave, reports the NPWF, and fewer than 40 percent have paidmedical leave. U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez has called theU.S. paid leave policy "dismal."

The Family Act, if passed, would create a national programoffering 12 weeks and 66 percent wage replacement and benefits formothers.

It has been endorsed by such companies as Patagonia,Care.com, Eileen Fisher, and Google.

Read: Microsoft, Adobe boost parental leavepolicies

Part of the attraction for companies is that it could neutralizethe benefits bidding war in some sectors, in which companiesattempt to outdo the leave policies of other businesses in theirhunt for the best employees.

Paid family leave insurance programs already exist in somestates, including California, where, according to a survey by theNPWF, small and medium-size businesses saw a bigger benefit fromthe policies than large companies, since they had beenat a hiring disadvantage compared with big outfits withgenerous leave policies, says Shabo. If all employers can offer thesame standard, "the playing field is more level."

The NPWF survey also found that 87 percent of businesseshad no increased costs as a result of paid family leave, andbusinesses saved money because they were better able to hold on toemployees.

The public debate about paid leave has evolved along withthe role of men in parenting, as paternity leave becomesan increasingly attractive benefit in businesses.

Read: Millennial dads ask for paternityleave

"Young men today have different values than their fathers," saysStewart D. Friedman, a Wharton School of Business professor whostudies work-life balance and who was the letter's first signer."They want and expect to be engaged, and they need support from thegovernment."

Read: Why businesses can't afford to ignorework-life perks

Friedman's research found that only 42 percent of Whartongraduates planned to start families, down from 79 percent in1992. "It isn't because fewer people want to have kids thesedays," he says. "It's because financially, they can't see how tomake it work."

The private sector is wary of government intervention, butsomething needs to be done about the rising demands on youngprofessionals, says Friedman, especially since the boundariesbetween work and life are harder to maintain.

"We're seeing the cost of that expressed in burnout, stress.Everyone wants to learn mindfulness and yoga. Why?" Friedmanasks. "Because of overwork."

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