Family Values @ Work & Main Street Alliance Decry 45S Tax Credit

Every family deserves the opportunity to thrive, which is only possible when our workplaces empower families with paid sick and safe days, paid medical and family leave, and affordable child care. We expect Congress to work in the service of families, including prioritizing families over tax cuts for the wealthy. Cuts made at the federal level put unnecessary burdens on state and local governments. The proposed 45S tax credit will not close gaps in access to paid leave and only serves to enshrine a leg up for big business over small in our tax code when we should be leveling the playing field.

“Rather than empowering small businesses, the 45S has used our tax dollars to subsidize big corporations who already provide paid leave and can easily afford to do so. In the most recent public data, 97% of the value of 45S credits went to businesses with revenue of $25 million per year or more, and more than 88% went to corporations with $1 billion or more in revenue. Instead of supporting small businesses, the 45S tax credits have been another example of our tax code building extra advantages for big corporations.” – Richard Trent, President, Main Street Alliance and Family Values @ Work Board Member.

“Working people and small businesses need real, comprehensive paid leave, not tax credits supporting mainly big businesses. At Family Values @ Work, we know what effective paid leave looks like from our more than two decades of advocacy as a Network. Fourteen states, including D.C., have passed comprehensive, permanent paid family and medical leave programs. Working while sick, or not having the ability to care for a loved one or to heal from sickness, hurts the workforce. It is time for federal action on a comprehensive paid leave program that allows everyone to take the time they need to care, regardless of their income, job title, or location.” – Liana Cassar, Interim Executive Director, Family Values @ Work

Small business owners want and need real paid leave. Every family deserves to be able to prioritize the ones they love. For decades, state after state has proven that universal, comprehensive paid leave programs deliver for small businesses at a price they can afford. That’s why our national network is in Washington, DC this week. It is time for Congress to invest in the paid leave policies we know work for Main Street, not another big business giveaway.