Paid Family Leave Receives Bipartisan Push in Ohio Senate

THE CENTER SQUARE—With bipartisan support, Ohio could soon join the list of states offering paid family and medical leave for workers.

A bill announced by Sen. Beth Liston, D-Dublin, and Sen. Louis W. Blessing III, R-Colerain Township, would create a state insurance fund through a new payroll contribution split between employers and employees.

“No one should have to choose between their job and caring for themselves or their family,” said Liston. “This bill opens the door for millions of Ohioans who currently have no access to essential benefits.”

The 0.8% payroll deduction would cover full- and part-time workers for up to 14 weeks of paid time off annually. Much like the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, or FMLA, which not all workers are eligible for, the time could be used to meet needs for parental leave, personal illness, and caregiving demands.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce did not respond to The Center Square with its reaction to the proposal.

Unlike the newly proposed benefits, FMLA’s primary purpose is job protection, allowing employees to take time off without fear of losing their jobs. Whether pay or short-term disability insurance is offered while eligible employees use FMLA varies by employer. The National Partnership for Women and Families says only about 60% of Ohioans are eligible for FMLA.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce did not respond to The Center Square with its reaction to the proposal.

The new bill would promise to deliver a benefit to the 77% of workers, or about 4.5 million people according to the organization, in Ohio who currently are not eligible for paid leave through their employers.

“The lack of paid leave has devastating costs for Ohioans and their families and for the entire state’s economy by shrinking the workforce and lowering productivity, cutting workers’ incomes and harming public health amid a scarcity of reproductive and maternal health care,” wrote the organization in February.

While the exact language of the bill has yet to be released, its sponsors say that while small businesses with 15 employees or less would be exempt from paying, their workers would still be covered.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 13 states and Washington D.C. have mandatory laws instituting paid family and medical leave for long absences, while 18 states and D.C. have paid sick leave for short-term situations.

An additional 10 states allow for voluntary enrollment in leave benefits through the private insurance system.

Neighboring Kentucky is among the states that offer a voluntary program, while Pennsylvania has seen a similar payroll deduction-based proposal floated in the legislature. Minnesota is the only midwestern state with a mandatory system, though it is still in the development process.

Advocates say that it isn’t just the individual who would benefit from paid leave. Women are more likely to exit the workforce without it, costing the state economy billions. They also highlight the increased demand for caregiving time off that comes alongside the state’s aging population.

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