It's time for paid leave
Washington, DC - As we pass the 27th Anniversary of the Family Medical and Leave Act, which provides up to 12 weeks unpaid leave and job protection, small business owners are calling on legislators not to wait any longer to implement a comprehensive paid family and medical leave program.
When the FMLA was signed into law in 1993, the United States was already far behind the rest of the world. Today, 27 years later, we continue to be only one of a handful of countries who provides 0 weeks of paid leave benefits.
Only 19 percent of the U.S. workforce has paid family leave through their employers and only 40 percent have personal medical leave through an employer-provided temporary disability program. For small businesses the numbers are starker: only 14 percent of workers in firms with 100 or fewer employees have access to paid family leave, compared to 28 percent of workers in firms with 500 or more employees.
Small business owners overwhelmingly support paid family and medical leave and identify a social insurance model as what would most help them offer paid leave to their employees.
That’s why small business owners like Natasha Crosby and Sarah Piepenburg are coming to Washington, DC today from across the country to speak with representatives on the need for paid leave.
“Because of the lack of paid leave, my real estate business is one medical emergency from extinction, one sick spouse or sick parent away from losing revenue that could set me back years. A strong paid leave policy like the FAMILY Act, one that includes sole-proprietors like myself, will provide us the support in times of need that will keep our businesses open and thriving,” said Natasha Crosby, sole-proprietor from Richmond, VA and the President of the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, a local affiliate of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
“I hope our elected officials will listen to the small businesses that are showing up and testifying in support of this critical program, which is urgently needed. We want to get back to the business of running our businesses – and we want lawmakers do their jobs and pass paid family and medical leave insurance,” said Sarah Piepenburg, owner of Vinaigrette in Minneapolis, MN.
Real paid leave does not leave anyone behind, because of the size of their business, or carve out any care needs, especially medical needs that are over three quarters of FMLA requests. A strong paid leave plan is one that works for families and small businesses. The Small Business for Paid Leave Coalition has outlined principles of a policy that meets these needs. We need a paid leave policy that helps our nation achieve racial justice, gender equity, and is accessible to all working people, regardless of their income, the size of their business or the nature of their job.
“An inclusive family definition is an important aspect to a federal paid leave program,” said National LGBT Chamber of Commerce co-founder and President Justin Nelson. “We are excited to join with other business organizations to work for a national comprehensive family and medical leave program that covers everyone no matter where you work or who you love.”
“It is past time for paid leave. A comprehensive paid leave social insurance program would level the playing field for those small businesses consistently left behind,” said Executive Director of the Main Street Alliance, Amanda Ballantyne.
“Small business owners want to provide their employees with paid time to address serious family and personal caregiving needs. After 27 years, it’s time to update the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure a strong, inclusive foundation for a national paid leave program that covers all working people,” said National Partnership for Women & Families Vice President for Economic Justice Erika Moritsugu.
“The American Sustainable Business Council/Panorama study released last fall that demonstrated a largely positive return on investment for companies offering paid family leave is yet more evidence for policymakers that paid leave is not just a benefit to society, but to businesses’ bottom lines and the economy as a whole,” said David Levine, Co-founder and President of ASBC. “That’s why we need a comprehensive paid leave program offered to every American family no matter where they work or live.”
More quotes of support from small business organizations and partners.
Small business owners across the country are coming together to fight for paid leave for all, including for the smallest of businesses.
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The Small Business for Paid Leave Coalition is supporting small business owners as they speak out on how a publicly managed and funded paid family and medical leave program is good for all of us. Its members include Main Street Alliance, American Sustainable Business Council, Family Values @ Work, MomsRising, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, National Partnership on Women and Families, and Small Business Majority.