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Small business owners need a permanent national paid family and medical leave program. This will make Main Street stronger in all our communities – rural, urban, and suburban; white, Black, and brown – across the country. Write a letter to your Member of Congress to tell them to support Paid Leave for All

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Dear Elected Official,

As we honor the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), now is the time to pass a national paid family and medical leave program. Small business owners need a national paid family and medical leave program. Over the last two years our country saw a record number of small businesses created, while combating extreme inflation, strains on our national supply chain, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Each day small business owners serve as the backbone of our country employing nearly 62 million people, nearly half of all U.S. employees. A comprehensive national paid leave program creates the opportunity for small businesses to have a fighting chance in the midst of extreme economic hardship. A permanent paid leave program levels the playing field for small businesses, both in accessing this important paid time, and in recruitment and retention of employees.

A national paid leave program is vital to the success of the Main Street economy. Paid leave is not an extra – it’s essential to the survival of our country’s 30 million small businesses and the health of small business owners, employees, and customers alike.

Federal lawmakers must make creating a robust permanent paid family and medical leave program a priority. One that: 

• Helps small businesses recruit and retain valued employees and create secure, stable jobs;

• Lets employees and business owners take 12 weeks of qualifying leave each year to care for a seriously ill family member, welcome a new child, or take care of one’s own health needs;

• Increases financial security by providing wage replacement to enable employees to take time off and meet their expenses;

• Is sustainably and responsibly funded to make the program affordable for businesses of all sizes, and affordable to use by workers of all incomes;

• Covers freelancers and the self-employed;

• Provides leave to care for parents, children, spouses, domestic partners, and other family;

• Is publicly administered to ensure ease of administration by small businesses.

Since 1993, small business owners have been advocating for lawmakers to create a permanent national paid leave program that will be there for small businesses and working families. Small business owners have seen first hand the harmful consequences that not having a paid leave program creates and it is imperative we are prepared for any crisis that may arise.