Paid Family and Medical Leave Bills in Illinois – An Update

Many of you participated in our May 2021 webinar featuring the movie, Zero Weeks, which showcases America’s paid leave crisis and the cost of doing nothing. If you missed this presentation highlighting the dramatic realities of the United States being the only developed country not offering any paid family or medical leave, there are different options to watch:

  • Free with Hoopla through your public library, 
  • borrow the DVD from us,
  • or rent it from Amazon Prime Video.

After watching the movie, be sure to watch our speakers who presented the case for new legislation with the YouTube recording at https://youtu.be/yYZuAVEf8jk.

Our branch continues to be active participants in the state-wide coalition for passage of an IL Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The current news is mixed, but determination to move forward remains. A bill was introduced in the Illinois House that mirrors the bill previously introduced in the Senate. Both of these bills provide a comprehensive new program for all workers in Illinois.

The Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, SB 835/HB5029, creates a state-run insurance program that allows Illinois workers to use up to 26 weeks of job-protected leave a year: 

  • To welcome a new child into the home; 
  • To maintain a healthy pregnancy; 
  • For their own or a family member’s illness; 
  • For reasons related to domestic or sexual violence; 
  • For reasons related to military;
  • For reasons related to school closures in a pandemic

With a contribution from employers of less than 1% of wages, employees can earn more than half their weekly wage while on leave, with low-paid workers earning up to 90% of their weekly wage. 

A disproportionate number of women leave the workforce at some point in their career to care for family members causing a significant loss in compensation and forward momentum in professional growth. This interruption in labor force participation is a factor contributing to the gender pay gap. AAUW has supported pay equity and paid leave for decades. 

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

  • Ask your State Senator or Representative to co-sponsor SB 835/HB5029
    • Senator Laura Ellman has signed on and Representative Janet Yang Rohr is considering her position
    • If there is hesitation for co-sponsoring the current bill, identify questions or areas of concern that can be addressed during negotiations
    • Elizabeth Carroll and Peggy Frank (elizabethbcarroll@gmail.com; peggyfrank1313@gmail.com) are available to join other members in these important conversations; we have a template ready to be personalized for your own legislators
  • Register by Friday, March 4, to participate in the IL Cancer Association’s Virtual Advocacy Day (Cancer Action Network, CAN) on March 18 at this link.
    • Training will be provided
    • Meetings with legislators will be scheduled
    • Teams will meet with each legislator to highlight how Paid Family and Medical Leave will benefit cancer patients, caregivers and families.