The lack of national paid leave in the US means that taking time away from work to enjoy the holidays is a luxury, not a right, for too many workers — and that time off is a benefit more likely to be enjoyed by American workers higher up the economic ladder than by those at the bottom.
The US is one of only four countries without legally guaranteed paid vacation, much less sickness and parental leave. Not only that, but the federal paid leave proposals that have gained traction, as well as the laws of most states mandating some form of paid time off, omit coverage for vacation days and are paltry compared to what most other countries offer. In fact, we are truly in a league of our own. The three other countries that offer neither universal paid vacation nor holidays — the island nations of Kiribati, Micronesia, and Nauru — do guarantee them for public sector employees, who make up much of the formal workforce.
This month’s Resource Roundup opens with a national paid leave proposal recently released by Brookings and The Hamilton Project. In addition, learn about the benefits that national paid leave can bring for small businesses in an article by the Center for American Progress. We conclude this edition with research, published by the National Employment Law Project, on the working conditions faced by temporary workers in the logistics and warehousing sectors, who, among others, make the holidays possible.
Brookings | A Federal Guarantee for Earned Paid Time Off
Time off from work, whether for sickness, family needs, or simple relaxation, is a basic right long denied to American workers. The Fair Labor Standards Act, which forms the base of US labor law, does not include a provision for paid leave, and the few state and local policies that exist create a regulatory patchwork that can be difficult for some businesses to navigate. Recognizing the inadequacies of the current status quo, Betsey Stevenson, an economist and former advisor to the US Department of Labor recently authored a comprehensive proposal for federal paid time off that would set a floor that state and local governments can build on.
Read the full proposal here, published by Brookings.
Center for American Progress | America’s Small Businesses Need a National Paid Leave Program
Outside the few states and localities with publicly funded paid leave, the financial burden for providing time off benefits to employees is left to employers. This disadvantages small businesses and sole proprietorships, which operate on smaller margins and have fewer resources to attract and retain talent, and it discourages new business creation.
Learn more from the Center for American Progress on how public paid leave can help level the playing field for smaller businesses and bring needed benefits that are key to redefining the balance between employees’ work life and their holistic needs.
National Employment Law Project (NELP) | Temp Workers Demand Good Jobs
The next-day, instant gratification dynamic that increasingly defines online shopping, especially during the holiday season, isn’t possible without the labor of the millions of workers who make up the backbone of the logistics and warehousing industries. Their work is notoriously demanding and poorly compensated. Moreover, times of peak demand result in the onboarding of hundreds of thousands of temporary workers who receive even lower pay and fewer benefits than permanent employees.
Read a joint report, published by NELP, on the conditions faced by temp workers across the economy, as well as advocacy and policy approaches to improve the lives of those who make up the temp workforce.
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The Economic Opportunities Program advances strategies, policies, and ideas to help low- and moderate-income people thrive in a changing economy. Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on publications, blog posts, events, and other announcements.
