State Rep. Palm Addresses Paid Family Leave In Connecticut

Press release from Connecticut House Democrats:

Jan. 16, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

If the ongoing pandemic has taught us anything, it's that unexpected crises can pop up at any time to wreak havoc on our lives. When those situations arise, it's vital to be as prepared as one possibly can be.

This is why Connecticut's Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which went into effect on January 1, will be so crucial for workers and why I was pleased to be part of the team that pushed hard for this program.

The Paid Leave program offers workers access to partial wage replacement for qualifying life events, including childbirth and seeking treatment for serious health conditions for themselves or their families.

The Benefits

• In most cases the state paid family leave program will provide you up to 12 weeks of paid time off and 14 weeks for certain issues during pregnancy.
• This law recognizes that families come in all forms. Unlike the current Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act, which limits leave to care for only close blood relatives, the new leave law allows Connecticut’s workforce to take time to care for newly adopted children, grandchildren, grandparents and those who workers consider family by virtue of their bond with them, such as a foster sibling. Same-sex couples are also eligible for these benefits under this program.
• Up to 12 days of paid leave is available for those affected by domestic violence, and more paid time may be available if that person affected by domestic violence has a serious health condition for which they are seeking treatment from a health care provider.

There is some misinformation in the public sphere regarding the funding of this important social program. Some have called it a "tax." It is not a tax. Like any type of insurance, policyholders pay to receive coverage. The premiums pay for the benefit. Please note that payroll deductions are based on the frequency of your pay period, and the most you will contribute is one-half of one percent (0.5%) of your total wages.

For example, if you earn:

• $5,000 per month, you would pay $25 per pay period
• $2,500 per month, you would pay $12.50 per pay period
• $1,000 per month, you would pay $5 per pay period
###/ulHERE and scroll to the very bottom of the page. Paid family and medical leave keep families together during difficult times like these and I am pleased our state has joined a growing list of states across the country to implement this program. For additional information on this program, visit the CT Paid Leave Authority's website by clicking HERE.

Please help me reach your neighbors, who may be in need, by forwarding this email to them. Feel free to contact me by email at Christine.Palm@cga.ct.gov with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Christine Palm
State Representative

This press release was produced by Connecticut House Democrats. The views expressed here are the author's own.