A National Paid Leave Framework Needs a Private Option
75% support a partnership between the government and private plans that provides paid leave for employees of small businesses and self-employed workers. Paid leave is essential for the well-being of American workers and their families. Whether welcoming a new child or recovering from injury or illness, everyone deserves the ability to take time off work to care for themselves and loved ones without facing economic hardship. Private insurers, employers and legislators can collaborate to create solutions that provide cost-effective coverage y by building on the existing employer-based system. Insurers bring valuable experience and tools to the table, making it possible to cover more of the workforce and their families.
Private plans can help lift administrative burdens for small businesses. Kate Pikul is a Senior HR Director for Avid Marketing Group. She shared, “Since I’m responsible for so many people here and so many pieces of the HR world with them, paid leave becomes very complicated. Being able to have a partner to come in and help guide you through that and take some of that weight off is definitely a definite bonus.” Katie’s story demonstrates why partnership between the public and private sectors would allow for a broader reach and ensure that more Americans can benefit from paid family leave without unnecessary delays.
All Voters
The following are two options for how paid leave could be done. If you had to chose which one of these options would you prefer even if neither is exactly right?
Build on and expand existing employer-based paid leave benefits and create new partnerships between the government and the employer-based system so all employers can offer paid leave benefits to their employees. (72%)
Create a new national federal government program that provides paid leave benefits to all workers in the U.S. that is run by a government agency. (28%)
Most voters (72%) prefer a paid leave option that expands existing employer-based paid leave benefits and creates new government partnerships to offer more employee paid leave benefits. When asked, far fewer voters – the remaining 28% – said they preferred a national, fully federal paid leave program run by a government agency.
Working Caregivers (Especially Women) Need A Comprehensive System. The need for a dynamic paid leave approach for workers is clear, especially considering the economic impact of caregiving is profound, resulting in the potential loss of 300,000 dollars in wages, social security benefits and retirement plans over a lifetime. This makes the case for establishing a modern paid leave program, especially for:
- Young Adults: One in four of today’s 20-year-olds can expect to be out of work for at least one year as a result of a disabling condition before they retire.
- Women: 60 percent of caregivers are women and women, on average, have 30 percent less retirement income than men.
Policymakers and Private Insurers Should Work Together. A public-private partnership can play a leading role in expanding access to paid leave for the next generation of workers in efficient and equitable ways. By fully using the resources and expertise of both sectors, we can build a system that supports working Americans when they need it most – ensuring they don’t have to choose between caring for themselves or loved ones and maintaining financial security.