U.S. labor secretary touts parental leave during Twin Cities visit

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Twin Cities

By Frederick Melo

U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez on Tuesday said paid parental-leave policies will be instituted from the "bottom up," led by cities, state agencies and private-sector employers, as the need to retain workers increases in Minnesota and throughout the country.

Under the Family Medical Leave Act, private employers are required to offer their employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave after the birth of a child. Workers generally use up their sick and vacation time, if they have any, leaving them forced to choose between getting paid and getting well if they get sick later in the year, Perez said.

"We are the only industrialized nation on the planet that doesn't have some form of paid leave," said Perez, addressing a panel of advocacy groups, employers and elected officials at UCare offices in northeast Minneapolis on Tuesday. "This is not an act of charity. This is a form of enlightened self-interest."

Perez met with employees of UCare, one of the largest nonprofit health insurance providers in the state, in a closed-door session to discuss the company's paid leave policies for new parents. He then took questions from a table of advocacy groups and elected officials that included St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28191972/u-s-labor-secretary-touts-parental-leave-during

[slumcamper]

1. What a toothless tiger. For fuck's sake!

"will be instituted from the bottom up" = "we have neither inclination nor courage to issue meaningful policy directives on this matter, so we'll leave it to the inclinations of private sector employers to implement our desired policy."

What a spineless crock of shit. This administration and it's bureaucratic cronies become more Orwellian each passing day. And (bash me for speaking truth to power) Hillary would offer a seamless transition into this dystopian era.

Same old shit, different day: USA! USA! Drill baby, drill! And let's let "job creators" (plunderers for profit) decide if parental leave is acceptable.

I'm so sick of this shit.

Bernie!!!!

[Daniel537]

2. No kidding. Hoping for the private(oligarchic) sector to provide for their workers?

Like trusting the oil and banking industry to self-regulate. Lunacy. This country is long overdue for some seriously radical change, no question.

[Cha]

4. It's not truth.. it's ignorant cheap pot shots. You have no idea all the progress the Obama Admin

has Accomplished.. all you do is smear in the name of Bernie.

Some of Sen Sanders supporters on DU do him a huge disservice(not all.. there are those who actually appreciate President Obama). Whomever wins the Dem Nom will not win the GE without the Obama Coalition. They will want the President campaigning with them and for them. They won't be running from his Accomplishments while in Office. They know what's been happening. Too bad some his supporters are so clueless.

[Populist_Prole]

5. I agree. I think it's just grandstanding to distract from the TPP

If he wants to be a good labor secreary of the US, then he should put his efforts toward torpedoing the TPP.

Of course, that would entail him not being a team player.

[Cha]

3. Good for the Labor Sec, Thomas Perez, getting out there and addressing Family Paid Leave! It's sure

not going to get done in the Repub Congress.. that some people don't seem to realize.