DFL, Unions Push for Statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave
Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and other DFL lawmakers joined union representatives on Monday to say they want all Minnesotans to have access to paid family and medical leave benefits.
There’s a bill in the Minnesota House, HF1200, and companion bill in the Minnesota Senate that would create a statewide paid leave insurance program. It would provide up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for medical or family leave.
Companies spoke in Monday’s virtual press conference that they let employees take family leave last year because of COVID and used a pandemic loan to cover the expense.
“The pandemic has made plain what was plain to so many of us before. But is made widely clear that paid family medical leave is a necessity,” said Hortman.
Some states, like Washington, Massachusetts and New York already have paid family and medical leave.
