Paid family leave plans give hope to workers

Unless you work for a large corporation that offers paid family and medical leave benefits, chances are you’re largely on your own if you need time off with pay to care for a baby or a sick relative.

However, proposals at the Minnesota State Capitol are getting more serious consideration than ever before, giving workers hope 2022 might be the year a plan becomes law.

“This is just smart policy,” Gov. Tim Walz said at a roundtable discussion Wednesday at Cahoots Coffee Bar in St. Paul. “It’s long overdue.”

RELATED: Walz seeks paid family leave, expanded child care in proposed budget

Employers like Anders Ulland, owner of Cahoots Coffee Bar, would like to offer paid leave, but can’t afford it. He says he hopes the state will step in and find a way to pay for it or at least make it affordable.

“Something like this happening and the movement towards a program like this I think would make me feel better just knowing my employees will be taken care of even if I can’t afford to do so,” he told the governor on Wednesday.

The governor and House DFL leaders have proposed publicly-funded paid leave programs in which employers and employees would also help pay for premiums in a public insurance plan. Senate Republicans propose having employers offer private insurance plans and giving them tax credits to help pay for it.

RELATED: Minnesota Republicans unveil family and medical leave plan

A mother of two young children told the governor at the Cahoots Coffee Bar meeting she worries about families having to rely on companies to voluntarily offer paid family and medical leave.

“We shouldn’t have to rely on the generosity and flexibility of our employers to work and care for our families,” Corinne Freedman Ellis told the governor.

The House, Senate and governor will now begin negotiations to see if they can find a compromise.