Business

Obama Tries Again to Get Paid Leave for More Workers

Published

9 years ago

January 15, 2015

President Barack Obama signs a presidential memorandum on paid leave, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. The presidential memorandum is to direct federal agencies to advance six weeks of paid sick leave that federal workers could use as paid family leave. Workers would have to pay back the sick leave over time. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press
DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — President Barack Obama launched a fresh push Thursday to bring paid sick and family leave to working parents and other private-sector employees as the White House unveiled proposals that could benefit tens of millions of people. Most require action by the Republican-controlled Congress.

“Forty-three million Americans do not get paid sick leave,” Obama said after a lunchtime discussion about juggling work and family with a group of women at a Baltimore cafe that offers paid sick leave to its small workforce. “It’s a pretty astonishing statistic.”

Obama said the issue transcends demographics and geography, but “the good news is that we can really do something about it.”

The White House said Obama will push the issue anew in the State of the Union address he delivers Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress.

Obama wants Congress, states and cities to pass measures to let workers earn up to a week of paid sick time a year. He’ll also ask for more than $2 billion to encourage states to create paid family and medical leave programs.

Obama also will propose that Congress pass legislation giving federal workers an additional six weeks of paid parental leave.

Before traveling to Maryland, he directed federal agencies to advance six weeks of paid sick leave that federal workers could use as paid family leave. The leave would have to be paid back over time.

The White House said details on how Obama would raise the $2 billion will be released next month.

More than 40 million private-sector workers don’t have access to any type of paid sick leave, said White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, meaning their paychecks come up short if they stay home when sick or to care for someone who is.

Women make up about half the workforce and nearly three-fourths of mothers work outside the home, federal statistics show.

Citing the country’s positive economic outlook, Obama said the kind of flexibility provided by paid leave policies “ultimately is going to make our economy stronger.” He said the Baltimore cafe owner has offered above-minimum-wage pay and earned sick leave to her employees since opening in late 2010. That type of investment “pays dividends,” said Obama, who cited reduced employee turnover as one benefit.

The National Federation of Independent Business, which represents small businesses, opposes the president’s effort.

Spokesman Jack Mozloom said required paid leave would force the association’s members to make corresponding cuts in pay and benefits that would harm the people Obama and the advocates of such policies say they want to help. Most of the association’s members have fewer than 25 employees, he said.

“It ripples through the economy in ways the advocates and the president, I think, sometimes don’t see,” Mozloom said.

Obama wants Congress to send him legislation, sponsored since 2005 by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., to allow workers to earn up to seven days of paid sick leave to care for themselves or a sick family member, obtain preventive care or treat domestic violence. Workers would earn an hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours they work. Employers that provide paid sick time would not have to change their policies as long as the time earned can be used for the same purposes.

Some states and cities have adopted similar legislation, and Obama will urge others to follow their lead.

The odds are slim that Congress will send Obama the bill — in part, because it was first introduced nearly a decade ago.

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., chair of the House committee that oversees workforce issues, said more government isn’t the answer to what’s squeezing working families. He referred to legislation the Republican-controlled chamber passed two years ago to let workers take paid time off for working overtime. The Obama administration threatened to veto the bill, which didn’t advance in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“The president has shown time and again his only response to the challenges facing working families is to impose more mandates on workplaces,” Kline said. “It should be clear to the president by now his approach isn’t working and the American people deserve better.”

The president will also propose ways to broaden access to paid family and medical leave.

Only California, New Jersey and Rhode Island offer paid family and medical leave. Federal law allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off without losing their job to care for a new child, recover from illness or care for a sick family member.

The White House says most families cannot afford such long stretches without pay. Obama will ask lawmakers for $2.2 billion to reimburse up to five states for three years for a portion of the costs of putting similar programs in place.

Regarding the federal workforce, Obama will propose legislation providing six weeks of paid administrative leave for the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child. Federal workers receive paid sick leave and vacation time, but no paid time off specifically for family or parental leave. Under the proposal, federal workers could use sick time to care for a healthy child after birth or adoption.

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Superville contributed from Washington.

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On Twitter, follow Darlene Superville at http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap and Nedra Pickler at http://www.twitter.com/nedrapickler

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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6 days ago

April 26, 2024

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State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

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2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

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American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”

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Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

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Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”