Dear Member of Congress:
On behalf of the 200,000 businesses, and 325,000 entrepreneurs,
executives, managers and investors we represent, the American
Sustainable Business Council urges you to support the
Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act. This
common-sense program will help U.S. employers, who struggle with
turnover and lost productivity as some of their biggest costs –
typically 20 percent of an employee’s salary; many thousands of
dollars.
Opponents claim this bill would be bad for business; but in fact,
passing the FAMILY Act would let more businesses reduce turnover
costs and level the playing field for responsible employers –
and help make American families stronger and healthier. High-road
employers know from experience that paid leave is key to higher
employee morale and a reliably productive workplace. The
FAMILY Act brings high value at a very low cost to employers, as
it is jointly funded by small contributions from both employers
and employees of just two-tenths of 1% each (two cents per $10 in
wages), or about $1.50 per week for a typical employee and never
more than $4.50.
States that have already enacted paid leave have found the law
both popular with voters and helpful to business. About 60
percent of California businesses reported cost savings by
coordinating their benefits with the state program. Meanwhile, a
poll in New Jersey found that, three years after the state’s paid
family leave program took effect, more than 75% of voters viewed
it favorably.
As business leaders, we know that providing paid family leave is
good for business and we believe it is good for our country.
Please help us all and support the FAMILY Act.
