ASBC Statement Criticizing New Federal Paid Leave Bill

Washington, DC – In response to the paid leave proposal, the Workflex in the 21st Century Act, introduced in the U.S. Congress today by U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA), the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) released the following statement, which may be attributed to David Levine, President, CEO and Co-founder:

“This is a sham that lowers standards and shields employers from needing to follow existing — and future — state and local paid leave requirements, many of which provide stronger benefits than what the bill proposes.

“Our public policies should encourage business practices that support employees. Such high-road employment practices are good for society. They put more money into local economies, reduce worker reliance on the taxpayer-funded safety net and improve the wellbeing of families.

“Instead, this bill provides a safety net for bad actors. We cannot support federal legislation that undermines existing laws that support high-road employment practices.

“If Congress gets serious about setting a federal standard for paid leave, it will consider approaches like the FAMILY Act (Family And Medical Insurance Leave Act, S. 337/H.R. 947), sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). It would establish a national program to help new parents and people with serious health issues through a shared fund that makes paid leave affordable for employers of all sizes and for workers and their families.”

ASBC recently published a report, The High-road Workplace: Route to a Sustainable Economy, which describes many high-road employment practices and public policies that would encourage their adoption by more businesses.