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John — Just over 29 years ago, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law. The FMLA was designed to protect workers and their livelihoods so they could take time off from their job to care for themselves and their family members. But as working people across the country have found out over the years, the FMLA does not go far enough. Today, the FMLA protects only 56 percent of our nation’s workforce — leaving out many people who work one or multiple part-time jobs, and people reentering the workforce after losing their jobs or quitting during the pandemic to care for a loved one. This has to change. We must update the law to meet the needs of today’s workers and their families, now more than ever. That’s why earlier this month, I introduced the Job Protection Act, legislation that will modernize the FMLA and close the gaps in its coverage. My bill will ensure that every worker in America — no matter who they work for or what kind of job they have — can take family and medical leave without risking losing their job.
Over the last two years, we’ve relied on our frontline workers more than ever before — including cashiers, servers, teachers, school nurses, and delivery workers. These workers, who are disproportionately people of color and paid low wages, have put themselves and their families’ health on the line to keep us going through the pandemic. Yet they face the highest hurdles to take time off from work because they either don’t qualify for FMLA protections, or can’t afford to go without pay. As we navigate the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and work to rebuild our economy, we must ensure that all paid leave programs are truly equitable and protect the jobs of the most vulnerable workers — and this legislation does just that.
Thanks for reading and signing on today. — Lauren |
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