For the first time in six years, senators in St. Paul are debating paid family medical leave. The bill provides families with 12 weeks paid leave if they have a baby or another medical situation that requires them to take care of themselves or loved ones.
It's funded through a state premium, divided equally between employers and employees.
The bill's author, Rep. Alice Mann (DFL- Edina), says the extension of these benefits to more people will help people who can’t afford to take time off.
“The vast majority of people do not have it,” says Mann. “The people that do have it are generally, in the wealthier job categories, if you will.”
Mann says it means a world of difference to those in this kind of situation, mainly low wage workers and people of color.
The bill is not without opposition. John Reynolds is president of the National Federation of Independent business, representing about 10,000 small businesses. He says this is not the right time to add the extra costs for employers.
“The bill has a 0.7% payroll tax up to FICA, which is going to be about a billion dollars for years in new taxes,” says Reynolds. “The last thing that Main Street businesses need right now as they’re dealing with inflation trying to keep up.”
As spelled out in the bill, all Minnesota workers would become eligible for what is termed “earned sick and safe time” upon logging 80 hours on the job.
Paid sick time would be accrued at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked; up to 48 hours could be accrued per year. Any unused hours would be available to be rolled over to a new calendar year, with a maximum of 80 hours to be banked at any given time. These hours would be paid at the same rate as normal hours worked.
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