RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for the General Assembly to create a paid family and medical leave program in Virginia.
Two bills — one in the House and one in the Senate — are making their way through the General Assembly in 2024 to create a state-run family and medical leave program in Virginia.
Both bills have advanced from committee entirely along party lines, with all Democrats voting in favor and Republicans voting against.
Such a program would give qualified workers 12 weeks of paid time off if the need to leave work for certain life events. Examples include caring for a new child, or taking care of a loved one or themselves if they have a serious medical condition.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 27% of workers in the U.S. have access to similar programs.
Chrischa Ives of Virginia Beach spoke in favor of the proposals. She said she couldn’t take time off of work to raise her daughter, Gabby, who was diagnosed with a rare syndrome.
“She would say, ‘Can you just stay one more day?'” Ives said. “I would say, ‘I can’t — I have been off for four days and I have to go back.’ It’s something no one should have to deal with, between ‘Am I going to be able to make rent, or can I go to the hospital and take care of my child?'”
Ives said a paid family and medical leave program would have allowed her to spend more time with her daughter, who passed away in 2020 and age 21.
“Thinking that I had to go to work and not spend moments that you don’t get back — I’m not going to get those back,” Ives said. “I spent it working instead of spending it with her when she needed me. I carry that guilt around. I will for the rest of my life.”
The program would work very similarly to the way unemployment currently works in Virginia, with most employers and employees paying into the program.
“The bill sets up a self-funded insurance program that would require that all employers and employees participate,” said Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax.
However, the bill is not without opposition. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce sent a statement to 8News expressing their opposition.
“The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is concerned that Senate Bill 373 and House Bill 737 would cost employers and employees over $1 billion each year and would require the state to collect an additional $30 million and hire an additional 250 employees to administer the program. This would disincentivize employers from providing employee benefits better than those mandated by the legislation. These costs would be passed on to consumers, including other businesses, and would further raise the cost of doing business in Virginia.”
