Time to Care Act Alert!
By Rosalind Floyd
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 17% of workers in the Mid-Atlantic Region have access to paid sick leave. The Time to Care Act would change all that.
What is the Time to Care Act?
House Bill 8, known as the Time to Care Act, would offer Marylanders paid time off for up to 12 weeks to care for newborns, loved ones with serious health problems, or themselves. WBALTV announced the Maryland House of Delegates have made significant changes and are hopeful the bill will soon be on Governor Hogan’s desk. WTOP reported that if this measure becomes law, Maryland will join the other nine (9) states — California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, Rhode Island — and the District of Columbia in offering statewide paid family leave.
How will the Time to Care Act work?
This bill establishes the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program and FAMLI Fund to provide up to 12 weeks of benefits to a covered individual taking leave from employment due to specified personal and family circumstances. The weekly benefit is based on the individual’s average weekly wage, subject to a cap. The FAMLI Fund consists of employer and employee contributions and pays for benefits, a public education program, and implementation and administrative costs.
Why is the bill important?
This program will level the playing field among businesses and workers. In a state where even unpaid family leave is inaccessible for 56% of working people, this bill has never been more critical.
Delegate C.T. Wilson (D-Charles), the chair of the House Economic Matters Committee, said it best “I really do believe that this is going to incentivize more individuals to come into the workforce … this is how we solve [the worker shortage] — by treating our workers better. This is how you give them value: by giving them benefits.”
If you would like additional information or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact JLM HR Consulting on our website or give us a call at 240-408-5071.
Resources
2 WBALTV