Have you ever had to choose between caring for a loved one and working so you can pay the bills? It’s a painful decision that too many workers have had to make.
Whether it’s an aging parent, a newborn baby or a loved one who needs care, responsibility to the people in our lives can conflict with work duties. But often, workers can’t afford to give up their incomes. In fact, almost half of people who need time off but don’t take it say the reason is financial.
It’s hardly surprising that so many workers have to choose paying the bills over personal concerns, especially when many Americans have little or no savings to rely on. Federal law guarantees some workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for themselves or others, but only about 12 percent of workers in the private sector have access to paid time off. What’s more, even fewer of the lowest earners — just 5 percent — are entitled to paid leave.
This is a serious problem for families, businesses and the economy as a whole. Paid leave can improve the health of mothers and babies, encourage fathers to be more involved in their children’s lives and help women’s incomes keep pace with men’s, improving gender equality and economic security. It saves businesses money by encouraging employees to return to their workplaces after taking time off, which takes away the costly process of hiring someone new. And it strengthens the economy by empowering people to spend more and rely on government assistance less.
Recently, I helped pass legislation in the Assembly to improve the lives of New Yorkers by ensuring workers have access to a paid family leave benefit (A.3870-A).
Employees would pay no more than 45 cents each week into the policy. That affordable contribution would guarantee them up to 12 weeks of paid leave, including two-thirds of their salaries and complete job security.
The passage of this legislation builds upon our recent success fighting for families, including the new women’s equality laws, which now provide protections against wage discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic violence and unfair limitations based on pregnancy or family status.
Hardworking New Yorkers should never have to choose between caring for their loved ones and paying their bills. I’ll keep fighting to make paid family leave law and ensure families always come first.
If you have any questions or concerns about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or by calling 452-1115.
