Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jennifer Jacobs, of Brattleboro where she runs a small consulting practice. She is a member of Main Street Alliance.
[B]ecause my company works with many different types of businesses, and the people who work in them, we get to see an interesting cross-section of the workplace. Some situations are unique, but, more often, the similarities remind us that people are people are people. This common thread of “human-ness” is most when apparent when it comes to the dual impact that family needs and work responsibilities have on individuals. At times it feels more like “Family Needs VERSUS Work Responsibilities: The Epic Showdown” (read this with a booming WWE announcer voice, please).
But do these two parts of our lives need to be in opposition to each other? Can we have a more integrated (not balanced, but integrated) life? I think it’s possible … and one step in that direction is to reduce the financial burden many employees suffer when they need to take time off to care for their families.
Nearly every working Vermonter at some point will need to take time away from their job to care for a family member in some way (i.e. bond with a new child, help a family member with a serious illness, etc.). However, very few Vermonters have access to paid parental leave or family leave through their employer. Although the Vermont Parental and Family Leave Act guarantees many employees the ability to take this time off (under certain conditions and for a specified period of time) it does not require the leave to be paid. What does this look like? A new parent can have 12 weeks off to spend with their new baby or child (birth or adoption) but unless they have 12 weeks of paid time off accrued it is three months without pay; who can afford to do that?
Many businesses want to be able to offer their employees paid time off. Understandably, this is not a cost that most can bear. Fortunately, there is a solution … a statewide paid family leave program would eliminate this dilemma for small businesses across the state. The innovation and ingenuity that small businesses bring to Vermont contribute to its economic vitality, as well as its attractiveness as a place to live. To nurture both we need forward-thinking and creative policies to make it work for Vermonters to work in Vermont.
Last year we had a chance to pass such a law. The House and Senate approved legislation that would provide this paid family leave. The funding mechanism would be a very small payroll reduction (.5 percent) that could be shared by the employer. However, the bill was vetoed by the governor. Heading into the 2019 legislative session, I urge all Vermonters to contact their senators and representatives to encourage them to revisit this legislation and work toward a veto-proof majority. We need to address these challenges with smart policies that reflect the reality of family needs and the business landscape in Vermont, helping small businesses and the people who work there.
