Gideon’s bill would make Maine a national leader on paid family leave

If passed, the program would cover 95 percent of private employees and offer up to 12 weeks of paid family leave, as well as 20 weeks of paid medical or military leave. Employees would put less than one percent of their weekly paycheck into a paid leave fund, with low-income workers receiving a larger share of their regular wages during paid leave than a high-income earner, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP).

In his policy brief on the bill, MECEP analyst James Myall noted that, if the bill is enacted, “Maine would have one of the best paid family and medical leave programs in the United States,” in terms of eligibility and benefits.

Click here to read the full story, first published April 19, 2019, in Beacon.