Small business owners need a permanent paid family and medical leave program. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that paid leave is not an extra – it’s essential to the survival of our state's small businesses and the health of small business owners, employees, and customers alike.

From welcoming a new child to caring for a sick loved one, small business owners and their employees need paid time off to recover and return ready to work. A permanent paid leave program levels the playing field for small businesses, both in accessing this important paid time, and in recruitment and retention of employees.

Our state lawmakers must make creating a robust permanent paid family and medical leave program, a priority. One that:

1.) Helps small businesses recruit and retain valued employees and create secure, stable jobs;

2.) Lets employees and business owners take 12 weeks of qualifying leave each year to care for a seriously ill family member, welcome a new child, or take care of one’s own health needs;

3.) Increases financial security by providing wage replacement to enable employees to take time off and meet their expenses;

4.) Is sustainably and responsibly funded to make the program affordable for businesses of all sizes, and affordable to use by workers of all incomes;

5.) Covers freelancers and the self-employed;

6.) Provides leave to care for parents, children, spouses, domestic partners, and other family;

7.) Is publicly administered to ensure ease of administration by small business.

Small businesses need paid leave to thrive in our post-COVID economy. Passing legislation to create a permanent publicly-administered paid leave program that will be there for small businesses and working families whenever they need it is crucial to supporting small businesses to rebuild. We must never be unprepared for a crisis like this again. Paid Leave must be a priority as we pivot from Rescue to Recovery.