(BAM) Why Obama's Paid Family and Sick Leave Plan Is Awesome For You

[Janelle2002 3,865]

“How many working parents know that sinking feeling from sending their child off to school with a fever?” asks White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett in her Wednesday post, “Why We Think Paid Leave Is a Worker’s Right, Not a Privilege,” on LinkedIn. “And how many moms and dads have been denied the ability to bond with their newborn, or to care for an aging parent, all because they could not afford to miss work?” Too many, according to President Barack Obama.

On Thursday, the head of state signed a presidential memorandum in the Oval Office directing agencies to allow federal workers to take up to six weeks of paid sick leave to care for a new child or ill family members – even if they haven’t accrued it. “All employers, including the Federal Government, should support parents to ensure they can both contribute fully in the workplace and also meet the needs of their families,” states the document, “Modernizing Federal Leave Policies for Childbirth, Adoption and Foster Care to Recruit and Retain Talent and Improve Productivity.”

STORY: Replaced While on Maternity Leave: What’s Legal, What’s Not?

But the President isn’t stopping at that. He is also urging Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act – granting all Americans seven days a year of paid sick time – and will propose “using more than $2 billion in new funds to encourage states to develop paid family and medical leave programs as part of its upcoming budget,” reports the Washington Post. For the 43 million private sector U.S. employees without any paid sick leave, the President’s plans are a game changer.

STORY: State of Working Moms Today

“Allowing working families just a little bit of flexibility not only takes pressure off of our workers and their loved ones, it fosters more stable, productive and profitable workplaces, greater employee loyalty and lower turnover,” Jarrett tells Yahoo Parenting. “The fact is, this is not a partisan issue. It’s a family issue. And it’s an economic issue.” Here’s why this news benefits you:

Paid Sick Leave Makes Parenting Easier
The way families live and work today is full of impossible choices, Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, tells Yahoo Parenting. “For workers paid hourly, without a single paid sick day, they’re having to choose between earning a paycheck to pay their rent or to take care of a sick child.” Those at the higher end of the income spectrum have been hurting too, she says. “Our lack of standards means our culture doesn’t support policies that allow people to take time off, even if they’re financially able to. Many feel they can’t take time because it’ll have negative implications on their career.” The push for paid leave, that will make those dilemmas moot, “is great news,” she says.

The Workplace Will Become More Equal for Men and Women
“The provision of paid leave to employees will tend to increase parity between men and women in the American workplace in terms of both pay and opportunities,” Liz Morris, Deputy Director of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings College of Law, tells Yahoo Parenting. “Reports show that women who have access to paid leave are more likely to return to work following the end of the leave, and earn higher wages in the future.” The workplace at home, caring for newborns, will change too. “Studies show that men are more likely to take family leave when it is paid,” she adds. “And as more men take leave, the stigma surrounding taking leave will decrease.”

Private Companies Will Be Pushed to Change Too
Nearly one in two working parents has turned down a job because it would not work for their family, Jarrett revealed in her statement. “The truth is,” she wrote, “the success and productivity of our workers is inextricably tied to their ability to care for their families and maintain a stable life at home.” As private companies see the positive economic impact of paid leave, they’ll be more likely to consider adopting it as well. “Studies show that employers benefit from providing paid leave through increased productivity, reduced employee turnover and absenteeism, and retention of women,” explains Morris. “Through Obama’s laudable initiative, the government can serve as a model to private sector companies.” This conversation has been meaningful for a long time, Jennifer Owens, Director of The Working Mother Research Institute tells Yahoo Parenting. “Hopefully now it’ll become meaningful to the people who hold the key to the power of change.”

It’s a Step Toward Catching Up With the Rest of the World
The U.S. is the only industrialized country in the world that does not provide paid leave to new parents, Morris laments. But the President’s plan isn’t about keeping score, it’s about economic survival. “If U.S. employers are going to compete globally,” Jarrett tells Yahoo Parenting, “they will need family friendly workplace policies in order to attract and retain the best and brightest minds.” Putting paid sick leave in place benefits families, employers and the nation’s bottom line. “There’s something for everybody,” Owens sums it up. “It’s a win-win-win.”

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/why-obamas-paid-family-and-sick-leave-plan-is-108197289592.html

[lostinblue 1,989]

Just take 7 days vacation time away from the workers. That is what will happen .

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Just take 7 days vacation time away from the workers. That is what will happen .

So you dont believe in sick leave?

[lostinblue 1,989]

So you dont believe in sick leave?

You have zero conception on what it takes to run a business . . You will get x number of days for " leave " Sick personal holiday what ever .. All rolled into one . Call it anything you want. That is the way it is handled in the real world . In the end you will get only 5,10 , 15 work days off what ever the company policy will be.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

In Sweden,, When you miss work because of illness, you receive sick leave pay for the days missed, generally at the rate of 80 per cent of your normal salary.

[Póg mo 1,749]

You have zero conception on what it takes to run a business . . You will get x number of days for " leave " Sick personal holiday what ever .. All rolled into one . Call it anything you want. That is the way it is handled in the real world . In the end you will get only 5,10 , 15 work days off what ever the company policy will be.

In the rest of the "real" world companies manage to give three weeks paid vacation and one week of paid sick leave. In the United States companies seem to prefer to fire someone for getting I'll and either force workers to do extra work, and then wonder why employees are grumpy and complain about how expensive it is to train new workers.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

In the rest of the "real" world companies manage to give three weeks paid vacation and one week of paid sick leave. In the United States companies seem to prefer to fire someone for getting I'll and either force workers to do extra work, and then wonder why employees are grumpy and complain about how expensive it is to train new workers.

This is a socialistic and communist idea that has no place in the U.S.!! Unheard of! People don't actually need to be worked to the bones with no vacation time?? People never become sick even though more than 30,000 people in the U.S. a year die of the flu!

I cannot believe you would agree to these humane ideas.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Socialism is alive and well in the U.S. Thanks Obama.

[Póg mo 1,749]

This is a socialistic and communist idea that has no place in the U.S.!! Unheard of! People don't actually need to be worked to the bones with no vacation time?? People never become sick even though more than 30,000 people in the U.S. a year die of the flu!

I cannot believe you would agree to these humane ideas.

I think a lot of companies ironically would love to offer sick leave to their employees. Unfortunately, they feel that doing so would put them at a disadvantage even when the opposite might be true.

[Póg mo 1,749]

Socialism is alive and well in the U.S. Thanks Obama.

Socialism long preceded Obama, but the socialism practiced in the US tends to be focused on benefiting corporations at everyone else's expense. Too bad Republicans are only too eager to do the bidding of corporate America. Yes Democrats take lots of corporate money too, but they have at least attempted to put forward bills to over turn citizens united.

[luckytxn 2,265]

The reason we have Socialism so embedded in the U.S, is because the Republicans have embraced the concept maybe even more so then the Democrats. Using the argument by throwing the Republicans out there is what they want though so good job of following the party line comrade. Shows they have you fooled also. smh

Socialism long preceded Obama, but the socialism practiced in the US tends to be focused on benefiting corporations at everyone else's expense. Too bad Republicans are only too eager to do the bidding of corporate America. Yes Democrats take lots of corporate money too, but they have at least attempted to put forward bills to over turn citizens united.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Oh and please everyone go look and see where the money comes from to fund these two parties. The Democrats receive just as much if not more than the Republicans from Industries and corporations. Both parties want the people to believe that they are different though and that one is more people oriented and the other is more business oriented. It is how they are able to receive these huge amount of funds. Both parties are comfy in this deceit and hope it continues. Remember the old saying 'follow the money'. Oh and the media wants their share and are happy to keep perpetuating this farce.

[luckytxn 2,265]

double post

Edited January 17, 2015 by luckytxn

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The US is not a socialist society, the suggestion that it isis just clicheed nonsense.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Yes but you are a Socialist mouthpiece and of course will deny it is so. That is fine as you can be this way and nothing wrong with it so don't be ashamed. Obama is still in office so no need to think things will change anytime soon.

The US is not a socialist society, the suggestion that it isis just clicheed nonsense.