House Considering Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act

Tonight, the House is expected to consider and pass H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act.  This legislation would provide federal employees with four weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child in addition to their existing leave.  In addition, federal employees may opt for twelve weeks of unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). AGC is concerned that the passage of this bill may set a precedent for Congress to expand the FMLA to mandate paid sick leave on private employees, significantly hindering business owners from crafting their own policies to best fit their workforce.  Recently, Senator Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced a bill, the Healthy Families Act, that would mandate employers with 15 or more employees to offer seven days of paid sick leave per employee, including part-time workers. The House Education and Labor Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the bill next week.