Awards March 05, 2015

Should Congress Guarantee Workers Paid Sick Leave?

Should Congress pass a law guaranteeing U.S. workers paid sick and parental leave?

Obama Proposes Expanded Employee Leave

  • Under current law, U.S. employers must allow 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave following the birth of a child.
  • The U.S. and Papua New Guinea are the only two countries in the world that don't guarantee paid parental leave.
  • The president recently directed federal agencies to allow for six weeks of paid leave for parents with a new child or employees caring for a sick relative.
  • Obama is asking Congress to pass legislation granting workers in the U.S. up to seven days of paid sick leave each year.

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Mike Emoff
Shumsky (asi/326300)
"This decision should be made by the employer and shouldn't be a mandate. Competition should drive benefits, thus the employee chooses where to invest their career."

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Katie Hallstrom
ASB (asi/120075)
"With the change of the workforce having more female workers, I'd be in favor of having a paid parental leave for a period of time. I would look at 8 weeks."

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Dan Taylor
BamBams (asi/38228)
"The market can better control these things. Companies that compete for talent will provide more liberal benefits or they will lose employees to competition."

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Paul Gittemeier
Tic Toc (asi/158990)
"The wise employer caters to employee needs. Tic Toc provides new moms with eight weeks of paid leave and all employees with up to seven days of PTO and sick leave."

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Alan Vaught
Evans (asi/52840)
"I'm fine with the proposed changes, as long as it's done at the federal level. If we are on an even playing field with other states, we will adjust and adapt as needed."

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Mitch Mounger
Sunrise (asi/339206)
"I do not support the government's proposals. Sunrise prides itself on having incredibly flexible policies and will always work to make employees feel supported."