The following column by Representative John Persell was published Wednesday, March 6 in the Cass Lake Times:
Balancing work and taking care of your family is difficult for lots of Minnesotans. Too many of us have to choose between work and bonding with a new baby or helping out an aging parent. Minnesotans work hard to provide for their families. I’m committed to helping working families care for their kids, their parents, and themselves. That’s why I’m supporting paid family and medical leave.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act would allow workers to have up to 12 weeks of paid leave to provide support to their families. Eligible workers would receive a percentage of their salary during that time. Employers and employees would contribute a small portion of each paycheck so all Minnesotans could receive this benefit.
Many large corporations already offer paid family and medical leave, so this proposal would help our small businesses as well as their staff members. Local businesses that are able to offer paid leave are better able to compete with larger companies for employees. They are also more likely to keep workers who might otherwise leave due to the demands of caregiving or a job offer that includes better benefits.
Small business owners would also be able to take care of their own families. During a recent public hearing, a business owner who had given her employees paid time off shared that she couldn’t afford to take the same time for herself.
Paid family and medical leave also helps workers stay and participate in the workforce. For many caregivers, the strain of juggling work and family is too much. They are forced to stop working to give their loved ones the care and attention they need. Folks having to leave the workforce hurts those people, but also damages our local and state economy. Paid leave would ensure that people that want to keep working can do so.
Paid family and medical leave would help all Minnesotans, but it would particularly benefit workers who rely on every dollar they earn to pay the rent or mortgage and put food on the table. People living paycheck to paycheck would be helped the most by paid leave, but jobs with the lowest wages are the least likely to include it. Expanding access to this benefit would give folks some economic stability and peace of mind.
Paid family and medical leave also helps parents with new children. The first few weeks with a newborn are a wonderful and exciting time for families. They’re also crucial for healthy development. Little ones need time to bond with their parents in order to get the best start in life. Moms and dads are sleep deprived enough. They shouldn’t have to lie awake at night worrying if they can afford to spend that time away from work.
The need for paid family and medical leave is higher in our community. While folks in the Twin Cities might be able to take an hour or two off one day to go see a doctor, most of us here in Greater Minnesota have to drive further to our appointments and need more time off. It’s also harder to find child care in our area, so many parents are forced to miss work or scramble to find family members or neighbors to cover the gaps.
During the first public hearings on this bill, we heard heart-wrenching stories from Minnesotans who struggle to make ends meet and give their loved ones the care they need. It was particularly difficult to listen as a mom described trying to take care of her son after doctors discovered his seizures were caused by a tumor. She and her husband both worked full time, and she had taken maternity leave recently. She was running out of options.
As you know, stories like hers aren’t uncommon in our community. Whether a family is experiencing one of the most exciting times of their lives or one of the worst, paid family and medical leave would make life just a little bit easier. That’s something I want for our families and our communities.