An opinion poll released today shows a majority of Michigan small companies support a national paid family and medical leave program funded by a combination of employee and employer contributions.
The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Small Business Majority and the National Partnership for Women & Families, found 79 percent of Michigan small businesses support enacting a national paid family leave program that would guarantee employees wage replacement for up to 12 weeks, funded by shared employer and employee contributions of 0.5 percent each.
“When it comes to paid family and medical leave, it’s not a matter of if small businesses need a standardized policy, it’s a question of how quickly can we make it happen,” says John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “Unfortunately, our existing landscape leaves small businesses to mostly fend for themselves regarding family and medical leave.
“This patchwork response to a nearly universal problem isn’t working, and it’s hurting small business’ bottom lines. After so many years of indefensible inaction on this issue, we need to move forward with a national paid family and medical leave program so that small businesses and their employees don’t have to choose between caring for loved ones or paying their bills.”
Additionally, the survey found 50 percent of Michigan small businesses currently offer paid medical leave for serious health needs, while less than half (41 percent) offer some form of paid parental leave for parents with a newborn child.
However, many of the small businesses that offer paid family or medical leave are unable to offer policies on par with the three-month leave that would be covered under a potential nationwide program. In fact:
- Among those offering paid medical leave, 67 percent offer one month or less.
- Among those offering paid leave for pregnancy or childbirth, 42 percent offer one month or less.
- Among those offering some paid parental leave for a newborn child, 44 percent offer one month or less.
- Among those offering paid parental leave of adoptive and/or foster parents, 87 percent offer one month or less.
- Among those offering paid family leave to care for relatives with serious health needs, 70 percent offer one month or less.
“Small business owners know that investments in their staff are what helps keep their businesses thriving and their doors open,” says Jocelyn C. Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
“The fact that 79 percent of small business owners support paid family leave make this truth crystal clear. No matter their age or the season of life, whether they’re caring for a new child, an elderly loved one or caring for themselves, policies that support work-life balance make a major difference in the lives of employees — and businesses see positive growth as a result.”
Given these limited existing offerings, 84 percent of Michigan small businesses said they would like to provide more paid leave than their business can currently afford, and are nearly three times as likely (62 percent) to support a universal paid family and medical leave program over a voluntary insurance program that businesses would choose to buy into (23 percent).
What’s more, the need for additional paid family and medical leave options among small businesses and their employees isn’t theoretical: more than half (54 percent) of Michigan small business owners have had employees take extended leave to care for a new child, for their own health needs, or to care for a family member with a serious illness.
Many small business owners also have taken extended absences themselves: 46 percent took more than a week of leave to care for an immediate family member, and 23 percent took leave to care for an extended family member or friend.
The survey reflects a poll of 110 Michigan small business owners. It has a margin of error of +/- 9.3 percent.
Small Business Majority is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit national small business organization, while the National Partnership for Women & Families, founded in 1971, is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to make life better for women and families. Both groups are based in Washington, D.C.
For the full poll report, visit here.
