Paid Leave

Congress is considering a proposal to create a one-size-fits-all federal paid leave program in the name of helping workers who need time away from work. The new, proposed federal paid leave program doesn’t target assistance at those who need it, but rather would impact existing paid leave packages for all American workers, most of whom have access to paid time off.

Government-dictated benefits will backfire on workers, particularly women and low-income workers, by destroying true flexibility and limiting opportunity. There are better ways to help workers who currently lack paid leave benefits.

We have the opportunity to help workers who lack paid leave: There are voluntary, budget-neutral proposals, that would give workers access to financial support when they need leave, without changing the rules for the majority of workers who already have leave or are happy with their existing arrangements and without spending hundreds of billions more, which will only drive inflation higher.

Sweeping new entitlement programs backfire on workers: They make it less likely that those who are out of work will find jobs, they destroy workplace flexibility, and they discourage innovative win-win solutions for employers and employees, and disproportionately burden low-income workers and women. To boost access to paid leave benefits, we should empower people and give them new and better options without imposing the costs of a new entitlement.