Friend,

Everyone wants workers to be able to take time off from work when they need it, particularly when having a child. Fortunately, employers are increasingly offering paid leave benefits to employees, including hourly workers. This is great news, and a trend that we want to continue. 

However, creating a one-size-fits-all government entitlement program would be the wrong way to expand access to paid leave benefits, because they:

• Are unfair to low-income workers
• Undermine existing benefit program
• Subsidize big businesses that don’t need help
• Undermine opportunities for women
• Reduce workers’ income

There are better ways to support workers when they need time off without upending the existing employment arrangement of every single working American. 

Contact your members of Congress and tell them to oppose one-size-fits-all government-run paid leave proposals.

In fact, Independent Women’s Voice and Forum have been leading the efforts on this for years. We have proposed a sensible and fiscally responsible plan that would allow workers to access their Social Security benefits for paid leave in exchange for delaying retirement benefit eligibility.

Our earned leave approach would allow workers to use their own taxpayer dollars when they want and need them; rather than creating a program for all workers, even those who don’t need them, being funded by everyone’s taxpayer dollars. In the last Congress, there was some interest in this and legislation proposed.

Democrats in Congress are now working behind the scenes to ram through a government-run paid leave program and implement more mandates on hardworking citizens. We just want flexibility and freedom… not new mandates. 

IW drafted a working group opposition letter that we’re sending to members of Congress. Now we need you to take action.

Contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose government paid leave mandates.

Thanks,

Carrie Lukas