How should Maine structure Paid Family and Medical Leave?

Governor Mills and state legislators this session moved to establish a commission to develop a statewide paid family and medical leave program. Nine other states and the District of Columbia already provide such a program for their residents, but not every state approaches paid family and medical leave the same way. Read on to see what models the commission could use to design a program for the state of Maine:

Which states offer paid family and medical leave (PFML)?

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia, either currently offer or are on track to offer PFML. Additionally, Hawaii offers paid medical leave in the form of temporary disability insurance.

Source: Investopedia

What percentage of wages/salary is covered under PFML?

This varies by state, though every state caps weekly rates annually based on either inflation or the state’s average weekly wage. Seven states offer a progressive system in which lower-income workers receive a higher percentage of their wages, between 70 and 100 percent. New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey cap their wage replacement rates for all workers, regardless of income.

Source: A Better Balance

How long does paid leave last?

The length of paid leave available varies by state, but everywhere but D.C. provides workers at least 12 weeks of paid time off if they become seriously sick. New York and New Jersey offer 26 weeks of paid medical leave, Rhode Island provides 30 weeks, and California provides up to 52 weeks. Depending on the state program, workers can also take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks off if they need to care for a family member, and some states also offer extensions for health complications in pregnancy or childbirth.

Source: Investopedia

What does PFML cover?

Paid family and medical leave gives workers the time to bond with a new child after birth or adoption/fostering, recover from one’s own serious health condition, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or spend time with family that are members of the military. In some states (New Jersey, Connecticut, Colorado, and Oregon), workers may also take “safe leave” to recover from domestic or sexual violence. Oregon’s safe leave law also includes sexual harassment and stalking.

Source: A Better Balance

Which states include job protection as part of their PFML programs?

Job protection refers to employees’ right to return to work after their leave is over. Of the nine states offering paid family and medical leave, only four (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Colorado) offer job protection for both family and medical leave. Rhode Island and New York only offer job protection with paid family leave, and California, New Jersey, Washington, and D.C. workers may only have job protection through federal legislation, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Source: A Better Balance

How do these states pay for their PFML programs?

Every state funds its program through payroll taxes, usually split between employers and employees. The exceptions are D.C., which does not tax employees, and Rhode Island, which exclusively taxes employees.

Source: Mercer, A Better Balance

We still have a while to wait before the legislature’s commission comes forward with its plan for paid family and medical leave, but the examples presented by states with paid family and medical leave plans in place gives Mainers a lot to consider. All things considered, the benefits of a paid family and medical leave program cannot be understated. Every single one of us has faced or will face a time when we need to take time off from work to care for ourselves or our loved ones, but many Mainers can’t take that needed time without losing their paycheck or even their job.

We don’t know yet what recommendations the legislature’s commission will make, but one thing is clear: Maine’s working families are counting on our lawmakers to pass a paid family and medical leave program.

Do We Really Still Need Masks?

As children prepare to go back to school while the Delta variant surges across Maine, masks are back in fashion. School districts across the state have reinstated mask mandates to protect children, educators, and their families at a time when the coronavirus is increasingly impacting kids and unvaccinated adults.

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a return to masks ramping up, we thought we’d take a look at some of the false information making the rounds.

Myth: Masks are useless against COVID-19.

Fact: Besides vaccines, masks are the most effective method to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is spread through respiratory droplets that travel through the air. Masks are meant to prevent your respiratory droplets from infecting others while protecting you from infection by other people. When an individual wears a mask, depending on its material and composition, they filter up to 95 percent of the respiratory droplets and aerosol particles that can carry COVID-19. Check out this New York Times interactive article to see how it works.

Source: Bryan Health

That said, it’s important to know how to wear your mask properly: covering your nose and mouth, with a snug fit all around.

Source: CDC

Additional Sources: Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins

Myth: Masks trap carbon dioxide and make it harder to breathe/make people sick.

Fact: If you’ve ever been to a doctor’s office or hospital, you know this isn’t true. There is no risk of lower oxygen levels or carbon dioxide poisoning because carbon dioxide filters through a mask’s breathable fabric.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins

Myth: Healthy people don’t need to wear masks.

Fact: COVID-19 is known to produce asymptomatic cases, meaning patients may have the virus and spread it to others without realizing they’re sick because they show no symptoms. Wearing a mask keeps yourself and those around you safe from COVID-19. Whether you’re healthy, asymptomatic, or sick, a mask is still the simplest and best way outside vaccination to prevent the spread of the virus.

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins

Myth: If you wear a mask, you don’t need to practice social distancing.

Fact: Masking alone is helpful in slowing the spread of COVID-19, but it’s not foolproof. Some respiratory droplets still find their way out of your mask, so it’s even more effective when combined with social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart) and other precautions.

Source: Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins

Myth: Children are less likely to get COVID-19, so they don’t need to wear masks.

Fact: The rise of the Delta variant and lack of available vaccines for children under 12 have put kids at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. Though the effects of the disease are generally less severe, there has been a rise in hospitalizations among children with the virus. Additionally, children can aid the spread of the virus to older, more vulnerable populations.

If you are the parent of a school-age child, click here to find out whether their school has a mask mandate for Fall 2021. (Note: Not a comprehensive list.)

Source: Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, NBC

The coming school year is a stark reminder that we’re not out of the woods yet with COVID-19. If we can continue to wear masks and get vaccinated, we can hope to return to normal in the near future.

Holding Our Elected Officials Accountable

The 2021 Legislative session was a great success for Maine’s working families. Our leaders in Augusta tackled plans to boost our public health in the wake of COVID-19, to strengthen our labor laws, and to protect our democracy.

Want to know how your representative voted on some of these measures? Mainers for Working Families has built a legislative tracker to help you find your representatives’ votes on key reforms.

Click here to view the legislative tracker.

Our leaders in Augusta have the power to implement the changes Maine’s working families need to thrive. It’s crucial that we understand how our lawmakers stand on these issues so that we can hold them accountable to the people who voted for them.

When the 2022 Legislative session begins, we will be prepared to keep our representatives to their word. Use the legislative tracker tool now to see how your House and Senate members voted.