In a letter issued last month to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the companies urged Congress and the White House to hash out a permanent paid leave policy as part of the upcoming $3 trillion “Build Back Better” bill.
The letter notes that such a policy should include “time to welcome a newly arrived child, time to care for a seriously ill family member, and time to care for one’s own serious illness.” The companies don’t address how much time should be given or how to fund the program. “It’s about seeing this expanded to other companies” that can’t afford it, said David Hanrahan, chief human resources officer at Eventbrite.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than two million women were forced to leave their jobs with many not able to access child care and having to teach their children at home. Unlike many developed countries, the U.S. does not afford any type of paid time off for new parents, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development noted.
“With an equal paid leave policy in place, we can help stem the historic tide of women leaving the workforce and ensure that low-wage earners and people of color have the time they need to care for themselves and their families,” the letter notes.