Virginia Democrats: Once more, Democrats in Virginia support a plan to create a universally paid family and medical leave program that the Virginia Employment Commission would oversee.
The legislation, which has the support of Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, and Del. Briana Sewell, D-Prince William, would use the framework of unemployment insurance to reimburse the costs of up to 12 weeks of leave per year for family or serious health care.
Although the Family and Medical Leave Act mandates that employers with 50 or more employees grant employees a maximum of 12 weeks of leave for similar qualifying events, it does not impose a monetary compensation requirement during that period. Boysko and Sewell’s proposal would guarantee that eligible employees receive 80% of their salaries while they are on leave.
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“People have been forced to make the incredibly difficult choice of caring for a loved one or skipping a paycheck for far too long,” Sewell said during a proposal press conference on Monday. Women face this issue more than men because we often care for family and friends.
Both employer and employee contributions would be utilized to finance the program. Boysko and Sewell estimate the cost would be approximately 0.5 percent of an employee’s salary; for an employee earning $50,000 per year, that would be $4.57 per week or $238 per year, according to Sewell earlier this month.
During the committee introduction, Boysko emphasized the importance of not forcing employees in Virginia to face a difficult decision between keeping their jobs and attending to pressing family matters.
“The situation need not be this way.” Boysko further stated, “This is not the case in the rest of the world.” “Workers may find Virginia to be a family-friendly environment.”
If the bill passes, the Commonwealth will give paid family and medical leave like in twelve other states, including DC, MD, and DE. Despite having the votes in the House and Senate, Democrats need Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s cooperation to pass the legislation.
Last year, House Republicans blocked the proposal, and this year they unanimously opposed it in committee. Several major business organizations oppose it, saying it would limit companies’ rights to decide what’s practical for the workplace.
“Our position is that employers should have the ability to design benefit packages that are suitable for their industry,” stated Travis Smiley, a lobbyist for the Virginia Food Industry Association, which focuses on the grocery store sector. Smiley stated that grocery stores typically experience significant employee turnover, which presents “unique challenges.”
The Virginia Small Business Council, for example, believes that a state insurance pool may help smaller, resource-constrained enterprises offer a desirable benefit that would boost employee retention and reduce attrition.
“This is leveling the playing field and allowing small businesses to compete with the enormous corporations,” said Shirley Modlin, a member of the Virginia Small Business Council and proprietor of a small manufacturing company in Powhatan.
Youngkin has had no comment on the proposal thus far. Governor spokesman Christian Martinez stated that he would assess any legislation presented to him when asked about his position.
“They have not expressed opposition,” Sewell stated. “They have refrained from expressing their support.”
She and Boysko support the plan because it addresses the governor’s December budget proposal’s “empowering working parents” and childcare shortages, which have disproportionately affected women’s labor force participation.
Sewell stated, “The governor has expressed his desire to unleash opportunity in the Commonwealth of Virginia.” “I believe it is time for him to provide opportunities for employees who have familial responsibilities to attend to.”
