Rubio’s Tax Credits Won’t Increase Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave

In response to Senator Marco Rubio’s announcement of a paid family leave proposal that would offer a tax credit to employers who offer paid family leave, Ellen Bravo, executive director of Family Values @ Work and one of the nation’s leading experts on paid sick days and paid family leave policies, released the following statement:

“Senator Rubio’s acknowledgement of the need for improved family and medical leave in this country reflects the growing recognition that our country must take action. However, the tax credit model he puts forth has proven to be ineffective for guaranteeing coverage to many of the Americans already lacking access.

“Tax credits will likely subsidize companies that have already made investments in paid family leave without any evidence that they will spur large numbers of additional companies to offer new benefits. Programs such as these fail to reach the low-wage and part-time workers who need paid family and medical leave the most, disproportionately impacting women and people of color. They also constitute a cost to taxpayers and don’t offer enough help to small businesses.

“What we need instead is a social insurance model, proven successful in three states and in many other countries, an affordable way to make leave accessible to all workers regardless of where they work. This is the solution put forth in the FAMILY Act, a commonsense solution that we urge all 2016 candidates to support in order to protect every family.”

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Family Values @ Work is a network of coalitions in 21 states working to pass policies that value families at work such as paid sick days and affordable family leave.

CONTACT: Leslie Patterson, leslie@berlinrosen.com, 646-200-5326