McClatchy : Congress may expand Family and Medical Leave Act

[babylonsister]

Congress may expand Family and Medical Leave Act
By Rob Hotakainen | McClatchy Newspapers

* Posted on Mon, August 13, 2007


WASHINGTON — Despite resistance from business groups, the Democratic-led Congress appears to be growing sympathetic to the idea of providing workers with more time off to tend to their families.

Before leaving Washington for its August recess, the Senate approved a plan that would allow the relatives of wounded soldiers to take up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for them. If approved by the full Congress, it would mark the first expansion of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act since it took effect in August 1993.

That's just for starters. A Senate bill would provide up to eight weeks of paid leave for workers who need time off for the birth or adoption of children. More narrowly crafted bills pending in the House of Representatives and the Senate would provide eight weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers. Another Senate bill would require employers who have 15 or more workers to provide each of them with at least seven paid sick days to address their medical needs or the needs of their families.

Supporters say it's time to give struggling employees a break by expanding the law that allows them to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave if they're ill or must care for sick children or other family members. The measure applies to employers with 50 or more workers.

Opponents say that many employees are misusing the law and that expanding it would be too costly and disruptive to work schedules.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/18842.html

[madrchsod]

1. it`s about time

"Opponents say that many employees are misusing the law and that expanding it would be too costly and disruptive to work schedules." i`ll agree that this maybe a problem but there should be ways to weed out those who are abusing the plan. it`s about time the american worker has paid sick days and paid leave. we are the best dam workers in the world that gets few benefits for our work