Workforce
Paid family and sick leave for the government in the new house bill
Rep. Maloney at an event in New York City in 2019. (Photo credit: Lev Radin / Shutterstock.com
The House Democrats want to grant federal employees 12 weeks of paid family and sick leave per year under a law introduced on January 28.
If passed and signed, the bill would represent the largest expansion of the federal employee benefits package since the government was granted 12 weeks of paid parental leave under the 2020 National Defense Approval Act.
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (DN.Y.), chair of the Oversight and Reform Committee and a key force behind the drive to maintain paid parental leave, is helping to lead the new effort that will become the Comprehensive Paid Leave Act Federal employees are designated.
“The truth is that many of us are struggling with a family disease or having to care for one of our aging relatives or need medical care ourselves,” Maloney said on a conference call with reporters. “This is not something you can plan for, but these are situations we should deal with without fear of losing a job or missing a paycheck.”
The bill gives the government 12 weeks of paid vacation to care for yourself, a child, a parent, or a spouse. The federal government does not have to exhaust its regular sick leave in order to gain access to the benefit. The bill also covers federal agencies that need to commence military service of a child, spouse, or parent.
Proponents of the law say it would help the federal government recruit and retain employees by reducing sales and making federal employment more attractive to job seekers.
Current policies often crowd employees out of the workforce when they are required to take unpaid leave, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) Said on the call. In addition, women and people with skin color are often disproportionately affected, said the chairperson of the grant committee, Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.).
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, also highlighted the potential impact of the policy change on federal hiring and retention issues.
“The federal government competes with the private sector to recruit and retain future workers,” he said. “If we do not offer the benefits available in private sector companies, we will have many problems recruiting future federal workforces into the federal government.”
“We all know that unpaid family and sick leave is not an option for many federal employees who cannot afford to sacrifice personal income when a loved one falls ill, and this law offers a simple solution,” said Tony, President of the National Treasury Employees Union Reardon.
Members of Congress are also pushing for paid emergency leave in the next COVID-19 relief package, Maloney said.
Legislators will continue to push for paid family and sick leave for all employees, she said. DeLauro said she plans to reintroduce the Family Act next week, a bill that would create a paid vacation program for employees across the country.
“As the largest employer in the country, the federal government must take responsibility and set standards,” said Maloney. “We need a permanent solution to a problem that existed long before the coronavirus pandemic.”
About the author
Natalie Alms is an employee of the FCW who deals with the federal workforce. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (NC) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.
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