DC Paid Family Leave Law At Risk of Repeal....

[Anonymous]

On 10/10, the DC Council will have a hearing about the fate of DC's Universal Paid Leave Act, which has *already* passed and survived a veto vote. But now a few key lobbyists have pushed for a repeal & replace of the law.

WAMU covered this update, and a report found that the replacements are risky, and could risk the start of any program (currently slated to start 2020): http://wamu.org/story/17/10/03/paid-family-leave-may-law-district-big-details-still-debate/

DC groups are gathering signatures of DC residents to urge the DC Council to implement the law without delay or repeal. You can sign here:
https://www.change.org/p/dc-council-implement-the-universal-paid-leave-act-now

[Anonymous]

As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

[Anonymous]

I’m also a DC resident who hopes for repeal. This would cover so many non-DC residents and not cover the DC residents who work for the federal government or in MD or VA. Seems like they should come up with something more tailored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

Have a child and agree. It should include medical leave as well. Having a child is a choice. Everyone should not bankroll your leave, especially for multiple kids. Most of us save our leave for years to get paid maternity leave. We do have paid maternity leave - its called being responsible and saving your annual and sick leave when you can and using it for when you have kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

Tax payers do not pay into this account for the benefits. Only the companies with employees working in DC.

[Anonymous]

So much misinformation here. Please read this article summarizing the law. For the previous points argued see:

"It will guarantee certain periods of paid family and medical leave to private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2020. Payments will be funded by an additional 0.62 percent employer payroll tax that the city will collect from private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2019."

"Paid leave under the UPLAA, however, will be provided for shorter periods:

Eight weeks within a 52-week period to new parents.
Six weeks for the care of a family member with a serious health condition.
Two weeks for an employee's own medical leave."

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/state-and-local-updates/pages/washington-d.c.-finalizes-paid-family-leave-law.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So much misinformation here. Please read this article summarizing the law. For the previous points argued see:

"It will guarantee certain periods of paid family and medical leave to private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2020. Payments will be funded by an additional 0.62 percent employer payroll tax that the city will collect from private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2019."

"Paid leave under the UPLAA, however, will be provided for shorter periods:

Eight weeks within a 52-week period to new parents.
Six weeks for the care of a family member with a serious health condition.
Two weeks for an employee's own medical leave."

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/state-and-local-updates/pages/washington-d.c.-finalizes-paid-family-leave-law.aspx

Is it 8 weeks per parent or 8 weeks to split between parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much misinformation here. Please read this article summarizing the law. For the previous points argued see:

"It will guarantee certain periods of paid family and medical leave to private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2020. Payments will be funded by an additional 0.62 percent employer payroll tax that the city will collect from private-sector employees starting on July 1, 2019."

"Paid leave under the UPLAA, however, will be provided for shorter periods:

Eight weeks within a 52-week period to new parents.
Six weeks for the care of a family member with a serious health condition.
Two weeks for an employee's own medical leave."

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/legal-and-compliance/state-and-local-updates/pages/washington-d.c.-finalizes-paid-family-leave-law.aspx

Is it 8 weeks per parent or 8 weeks to split between parents?

I have not read where the leave is split. Since your employer is paying the tax for the benefit, both working parents would have accrued a benefit. Even if you are at the same company, each employee has a tax paid for them. I would recommend contacting DOES and asking about that provision. They've been incredibly helpful anytime I've needed an interpretation of a DC employment law for our employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

Have a child and agree. It should include medical leave as well. Having a child is a choice. Everyone should not bankroll your leave, especially for multiple kids. Most of us save our leave for years to get paid maternity leave. We do have paid maternity leave - its called being responsible and saving your annual and sick leave when you can and using it for when you have kids.

It DOES include medical leave. 3/4 of Leave is used to take medical leave and this law that was debated and passed allows for families to take care of their loved ones or themselves during times of need.

[Anonymous]

Totally against and hope it gets repealed. I'd be all for a federal law so one jurisdiction isn't penalized but this would drive businesses out of DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally against and hope it gets repealed. I'd be all for a federal law so one jurisdiction isn't penalized but this would drive businesses out of DC.

There is no hope of a federal law. So screw DC families until the federal government (never) gets its act together?

This is such a small tax (less than 1% of payroll) that the possibility of driving away any business is incredibly remote. To deny much needed access to paid leave -- leave that is particularly needed by low-income families who don't have access to it currently -- based on a remote possibility is not just mean-spirited, it's irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Is it 8 weeks per parent or 8 weeks to split between parents?

Here is the actual text of the Universal Paid Leave Act, not a summary from a third-party: http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/34613/B21-0415-SignedAct.pdf

Leave is *not* split between parents. The types events are (Page 3):
- Qualifying family leave of max 6 weeks in 52 week period
- Qualifying medical leave of max 2 weeks in 52 week period
- Qualifying parental leave (for any birth parent, adopted parent, or foster parent) of max 8 weeks in 52 week period
- Maximum of 8 weeks of total paid leave in a 52 week period (Page 6)

UPLA does not replace DC FMLA, which allows 16 weeks of unpaid leave during a 24-month period for family leave (care for family member); 16 weeks for medical leave (employee's own serious health condition), except the window is only 12-month period for the placement of a child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

Tax payers do not pay into this account for the benefits. Only the companies with employees working in DC.

We definitely pay if we become a completely business unfriendly environment or bankrupt our own businesses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is such a small tax (less than 1% of payroll) that the possibility of driving away any business is incredibly remote...

Typical liberal thinking that any new tax can just be magically absorbed without any impact on consumers, business owners, taxpayers, etc. Can we elect a few economists to public office please???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a DC resident, I hope it gets repealed. I'm not bankrolling someone's leave who lives in MoCo but works in DC. It also is strictly for family leave, not personal/medical leave, which I also think is unfair to city taxpayers who don't have children.
I'd be happy to see them replace it with something more comprehensive.

Tax payers do not pay into this account for the benefits. Only the companies with employees working in DC.

We definitely pay if we become a completely business unfriendly environment or bankrupt our own businesses

Which companies have left DC over this law? The tax begins in Jan of 2018.