Governor Whitmer Pushes for Paid Leave as Senate Bill 332 is introduced
Governor Gretchen Whitmer is prioritizing paid family and medical leave for Michigan residents, drawing inspiration from other states like Minnesota.
Why it matters: As one of the few nations without a universal paid leave policy, the U.S. has states wrestling with how to implement this essential support.
The Stats:
Roughly 80% of Michigan workers don’t have access to paid family and medical leave.
Federal policies already demand larger employers to offer 12 weeks of paid leave.
Looking for Blueprints:
Senator Erika Geiss and Representative Helena Scott have introduced Senate Bill 332, proposing up to 15 weeks of paid leave.
Minnesota serves as a case study. Governor Tim Walz recently approved a policy granting nearly all workers paid family and medical leave.
Minnesota’s policy uses a 0.7% payroll tax on employers and provides anti-retaliation safeguards for workers utilizing the leave.
Impact on Small Businesses:
Brian Calley, ex-Lt. Governor, now CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, warns against “one-size-fits-all” policies. He suggests such mandates could push the economy away from small, locally-owned businesses to major corporations, despite Federal policies demanding larger employers offer 12 weeks of paid leave.
Minnesota implemented a similar policy, making small businesses more competitive with bigger businesses for employees, not less.
The conundrum: protecting employee benefits and educating small business owners without giving bad faith actors openings.
Between the Lines:
Adopting comprehensive paid leave policies could stimulate the population and reduce or even reverse the birth rate decline in Michigan.
What’s Next: As Michigan’s legislature dives into the specifics, they will closely watch states like Minnesota to inform their decisions. The outcome could set a (hopefully positive) precedent for others in the U.S.
The post Governor Whitmer Pushes for Paid Leave as Senate Bill 332 is introduced appeared first on Stop Population Decline.