WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 6, 2021 15
Paid family leave: Successful in NY, soon to be nationally
BY JOSEPH P. ADDABBO, JR.
Our local communities — and America as a
whole — are slowly returning to a new sense
of normality as more Americans are being
vaccinated against COVID-19 and the positivity
rates drop. However, there is still much work to do
to bring our communities and country not only back
to normal, but even better than before.
One way we as elected offi cials, both locally and
nationally, can strengthen the American workforce
and begin to rebuild our economy is to better protect
and care for our workers by creating strong
safety nets for them. The middle class makes up a
large portion of the American workforce, and it is
imperative that we have a strong foundation that
allows more Americans the sense of safety knowing
that if they have a baby who is ill or need to care
for a family member that they will be fi nancially
stable.
Here in New York, I worked towards ensuring
that our workers have the time off they need
OP-ED
with New York Paid Family Leave. This initiative,
which became state law in 2016, is funded
by the employees themselves through payroll
deductions and provides workers with a portion
of their salary during their leave. In 2021, eligible
employees in New York state will have access to
up to 12 weeks of job-protected, paid time off for a
host of issues, including being under quarantine
due to COVID-19.
Now our federal government intends to emulate
our success and bring a paid family leave program
to the entire country. On April 28, President Joe
Biden announced the American Families Plan,
which will invest in our children, families and
economic future. This once-in-a-generation investment
will bolster the foundations of middle-class
prosperity including education, health care and
childcare. The American Families Plan will create
a national comprehensive paid family and medical
leave program, much like we have here in New
York.
The national program will ensure workers
receive partial wage replacement to take time
to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill
loved one, deal with a loved one’s military deployment,
find safety from sexual assault, stalking or
domestic violence, heal from their own serious illness,
or take time to deal with the death of a loved
one. It will guarantee 12 weeks of paid parental,
family and personal illness/safe leave by year 10
of the program, and also ensure workers get three
days of bereavement leave per year starting in
year one.
This plan will provide economic security to
families across the country – ensuring everyone
has the opportunity to contribute to the economy,
while caring for themselves and their families. By
allowing workers to take time off to care for their
health and the health of relatives, it creates a stronger,
healthier and more productive workforce.
Together, we can rebound from the pandemic
and build back our society even stronger than
before.
Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. is the state senator for the
15th Senate district in Queens.
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