Naomi Osaka partners with cause close to home, attempts to address America's paid leave problem

Former World No.1 Naomi Osaka has never been shy when it comes to expressing her thoughts regarding human rights, and the Japanese superstar has stayed true to form, recently teaming up Bobbie, an infant formula company that addresses America's issues with paid leave.

The four-time Grand Slam champion gave birth to her first child, daughter Shai, in July 2023, and has since been an advocate for new parents in addition to pushing for paid leave policies to support families. Osaka partnered with Bobbie, which was founded by mothers, in an attempt to push for the Family and Medical Insurance Lave Act, which aims to provide 12 weeks of paid leave, job protection and a minimum monthly benefit of at least $580.

Although the Act has not been passed, Osaka and Bobbie have been active in pursuing grants which support families. The Australian Open champion took to social media to highlight its importance.

"America has a paid leave problem and we're not keeping quiet about it.," wrote Osaka on Instagram. "The lack of federal paid leave has left parents with little, if any, support. As a new mom, this hit home for me. That’s why I partnered with @bobbie to advocate for the Family and Medical Leave Act, which would give 12 weeks paid leave, job protection, and guarantee a minimum monthly benefit of $580.

"We had a goal of awarding 50 families to receive a grant, but thanks to our coalition, we were able to support more than 200 parents. Thank you to the families who have shared their stories, and to the brands and individuals who have joined the movement. But our work isn’t done yet — we need your signature to get this in front of policymakers."