Dawn Dalton, the policy director at the Washington, D.C., Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said scheduling demands are consistently the largest obstacle standing between the victim and a different life: “I hear, again and again, ‘I just can’t get time off work.’”
“We appreciate that Sen. Rubio and Rep. Wagner are looking for a way to provide the paid leave America’s families urgently need,” said the Partnership’s president, Debra L. Ness, “but a program that only covers parents caring for new children, provides no leave for family care and personal medical needs, and forces parents to choose between paid leave and retirement security is absolutely the wrong way to go.”
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
People need time to care for themselves or a sick loved one, which is why 44 jurisdictions have passed paid sick days. Yet, lobbyists are urging Congress to give wealthy corporations a way to evade state and local laws and go back to putting limits and punishments on their employees for using the paid sick time they’ve earned.
Maythe made the decision to stay home from the bakery where she works to take care of her 9-year-old son. It turned out he had the flu, and she had to miss three days of work. She didn’t get paid for those days, and it set her family back on their bills.
The absence of a paid family and medical leave policy in the United States is hurting my employees and my business. It doesn’t have to be this way, however, because a plan to solve this problem has been on the table for years – only Congress declined to act on it.
While Rhode Island’s paid sick and safe leave law protects survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault so they don’t have to worry about losing their jobs while going to court or seeing a doctor, advocates argue that H.R. 4219 – the Workflex in the 21st Century Act currently on the table – would put these protections at risk.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
A paid leave policy designed to support workers who suddenly find themselves managing a crisis like this – not just the anticipated time off needed for childbirth, but also the sudden care need presented by a diagnosis of cancer, stroke, or even a happy but sudden adoption notification – would be a policy designed for robust voter support. Not everyone will plan to give birth, but who among us can say that we will never face an unexpected health crisis in our own family?
A prominent Christian think tank has come out fiercely in favor of better family leave policies, defending federally mandated family leave policies on theological grounds.
The “fake” paid family leave option, restricts participation to only maternity leave and diverts social security funds to pay for the program. […] For most Black women, social security makes up at least half of their income stream during retirement, according to the 2014 Black Women in the United States report by the Black Women’s Roundtable.
A bill in the Pennsylvania legislature that intends to reverse Philadelphia’s sick leave ordinance may also affect LGBTQ employment protections.
The ACA did some very important things but I would say it’s only a piece of the broader constellation of measures that would improve women’s and infant’s health, said Carol Sakala, director of childbirth connection programs at the National Partnership for Women & Families.
The new [paid sick days] law struck a chord with some employees at Langosta Lounge. “When you miss one day, it kind of domino-effects,” said Ryan Harrington, 30, of Bradley Beach, a server there. “A little less money for whatever bill I have to pay, or something I want to do. That one day can set me back for the month.”
Paid family leave is already required in six states and numerous cities covering 41 million people, National Partnership for Women & Families Vice President for Workplace Policies and Strategies Vicki Shabo testified.
[Rhode Island state senator Gayle Goldin] says Rhode Island’s program has won over small business owners who were initially opposed, and has become a selling point for companies recruiting staff to work there. “It’s important not only because they [employees] think they’ll need the leave, but also about the values of the state…. It sets the tone for workplace culture,” she says.
“It’s not a question of if; it’s a question of what or when,” says Sarah Lipton-Lubet, vice president for reproductive health and rights at the National Partnership for Women and Families.
Councilmember Eva Putzova, who pushed for the [paid leave] measure to be included in this year’s budget, agreed. “At some point it’s difficult to talk about family values and not follow through,” said Putzova, adding that in Slovakia, where she grew up, such a benefit is seen as almost a right.
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families