Catherwood LibraryILR School

On Tuesday the California State Assembly joined the State Senate in approving legislation that would make California the first state in the U.S. to provide paid leave for workers who need to take time off to care for ill or aged loved ones, or new children (see WIT for July 29,2002). Although paid family leave bills were introduced in twenty-five states and the U.S. Congress this year, and the last few years have seen Minnesota, Missouri and Montana establish limited paid leave for infant care, the U.S. remains the only one of 130 advanced industrial nations that does not provide paid family leave for its workers. The legislation passed by the assembly will provide workers with fifty-five percent of their pay for up to six weeks instead of the sixty-five percent for twelve weeks originally called for, and will be funded entirely by payroll taxes on workers instead of splitting the cost between employers and employees, but is still opposed by business groups.