Share
Big Business Asks Congress for Protection From Paid Leave Laws
A coalition of nearly 400 U.S. companies employing a combined 9% of private-sector workers has asked Congress to step in and invalidate state and city laws requiring paid leave.
The strike from the business community is a response to the increasing number of states and municipalities that have taken matters into their own hands, passing local laws that require employers to offer paid time off.
Big business believes, "Congress should establish a certain optional amount of paid leave and, if companies meet that threshold, they should be protected from state or local laws that might require more."
As of now, federal law offers many employees the opportunity to take unpaid family leave, but doesn’t require employers to give workers paid time off for sickness or childcare, including maternity leave. Since 2011, seven states and dozens of cities have passed laws requiring companies to provide paid sick days. Another two states and the District of Columbia passed laws creating family leave funds and requiring companies to let their employees use them.
It would be unusual for Congress to override state or local mandates on pay or benefits.
In response to the spread of local regulations, conservatives and business groups have pushed state lawmakers to strip cities and towns of the authority to pass such measures. With the GOP now in control of the White House and both houses of Congress....they have the chance to preempt states and cities nationwide -- a strategy that could establish precedent for other issues.