(The Center Square) – An aging parent’s medical appointment, a parent-teacher conference, a minor household emergency — these are everyday events that can throw things off the rails for workers without the flexibility to take a few hours off.
That’s why some Pennsylvania legislators are considering following the lead of states like Massachusetts in creating a Small Necessities Leave Act that would provide paid leave for employees to attend to matters in their personal lives.
Sen. Art Haywood, D-Abington, has put forward a bill that would institute job protections for small necessities leave amounting to up to 24 hours in a 12-month span. He and Sen. Nick Miller D-Allentown, presided over a meeting of the Senate Democratic Caucus Policy committee on the topic Tuesday at Penn State Abington.
Dr. Lonnie Golden, professor of economics and labor at Penn State Abington, told lawmakers that having some degree of control over one’s schedule is a major determinant of employee satisfaction, and therefore it’s a major determinant of employee retention.
Golden suggested that “filling the gaps” left by FMLA and other policies would make the state more competitive for families looking to settle down. He compared the state to neighboring New Jersey, where he says it’s “easier for caregivers to balance both their work and non-work responsibilities.”
Dan O’Brien, policy director at Children First, echoed that sentiment, comparing Pennsylvania to states which have paid family leave policies.
“This legislature spends considerable time debating measures aimed at growing Pennsylvania’s economy from energy to AI policies to new laws that streamline permitting and kind of reduce burdensome regulations,” said O’Brien. “But as you all know, it’s simply not possible to grow the state’s economy without simultaneously prioritizing the commonwealth’s workforce, especially commonsense policies that make it possible for families and working parents in particular to stay in the workforce and care for their children at the same time.”
For women who statistically carry more of the caregiving load in families, some flexibility may be the difference that keeps them in the workforce.
Blake Emmanuel, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Fund for Women and Girls, noted that hourly positions are largely held by women and people of color. When schedule conflicts cost them their jobs, it can quickly force families into dependency on crisis systems and the social safety net.
Emmanuel described her own experiences as a member of the “sandwich generation” caring for both children and parents at the same time. She recounted going to several IEP meetings for her disabled child over the course of a school year, all held during school hours. She took that time unpaid but pointed out that her engagement and ability to access the special education services her son needed allowed him to ultimately become a college graduate.
Nina Coffey, secretary-treasurer of the Service Employees International Union Local 668, spoke in support of the bill.
“People sometimes need a small amount of time to take care of their families, and they should not have to fear losing their job because of it,” said Coffey, who recounted meeting parents at the county assistance office who were “juggling more than one job and still falling short.”
“When people feel supported, they’re more likely to stay at their jobs. When they are punished for caring for their families, they burn out or leave,” said Coffey. “Losing experienced workers over a few hours of missed work doesn’t make sense.”
