New Paid Go away Regulation Takes Impact Friday / Public Information Service
A new law guarantees 85% of Maine workers paid time off. (Clarksgirl / Morguefile)
December 28, 2020
AUGUSTA, Maine – Starting Friday, January 1, 85% of Maine workers will be able to earn paid time off.
The Paid Paid Vacation Act states that people who work for companies with more than 10 employees earn one hour of paid vacation for every 40 hours they work, which is up to 40 hours per year. Mike Tipping, communications director for the Maine People’s Alliance, said the need for paid time off was particularly acute during the pandemic, but it has always been a major problem.
“When they get sick, injured, or caring for a loved one, many people don’t have a single paid day off or even an hour to care for a loved one or child,” said Tipping.
The law is unusual in that workers don’t have to be sick to take the time, they don’t have to justify it at all. Opponents have said the paid vacation demand is weighing on businesses at a time when the economy has already taken a major blow during the pandemic shutdowns.
The bill does not apply to employees who are part of a collective agreement.
Unused leave can be carried over for one year. Tipping called it a big step for workers – especially low-wage workers. But he said he would like to see lawmakers put in place a system, funded by payroll deductions, that covers long-term paid vacation for prolonged illness or the birth of a child.
“We need paid family and sick leave,” he said. “You know, there are a lot of situations where paid time off alone or paid sick days are not covered. We hope that legislation will address this in the coming year.”
Former House Speaker Sara Gideon unveiled a paid bill for family and sick leave at the last session, but she died when the legislature was suspended prematurely due to COVID-19. Nine states and Washington DC have laws that provide paid family and medical leave.
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