“Starbucks set a new standard and showed important, very welcome corporate leadership today by announcing a plan to provide paid sick time to all of its part- and full-time U.S. employees. As a leading advocate for paid sick days standards across the country, we are tremendously encouraged that a large employer is recognizing that paid sick time is a worthwhile investment that benefits employees and their families, employers and communities. With this action, Starbucks has demonstrated that multi-state employers can easily navigate state and local paid sick days laws by establishing generous, uniform policies of their own and that preemptive legislation allowing companies to bypass these laws is unnecessary. We also commend Starbucks for equalizing its paid parental leave policy for birth and non-birth parents. Other companies, especially retailers, should replicate these supportive workplace policies, which are essential for gender equality. And Congress should pass the Healthy Families Act, so all working people can earn paid sick days, and the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, to establish a national paid leave program for all workers and families.”