By Jon Jukuri and Jeanne Mejeur

Recently, President Obama signed a presidential memorandum aimed at agencies to allow federal workers six weeks of advanced paid sick leave to take care of a new child or ailing family members.

The memo’s title, “Modernizing Federal Leave Policies for Childbirth, Adoption and Foster Care to Recruit and Retain Talent and Improve Productivity,” highlights the economic advantages of yielding paid leave for workers.

In addition to the memorandum, the Obama administration will be proposing some $2.2 billion in new funds (as part of the upcoming budget) to push states to develop paid family and medical leave programs.

The Department of Labor will also be using $1 million of existing funds to offer states and local governments assistance in conducting feasibility studies around paid leave programs.

Connecticut, California and Massachusetts are the only states currently requiring businesses to provide paid sick time to their employees. The Connecticut and Massachusetts laws provide for up to 40 hours of sick time per calendar year. California caps it at 24 hours, with a law that goes into effect in July 2015. The sick time must be accrued before it can be used.

Three states, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island, offer paid family and medical leave, allowing all employees to take time off with pay for the birth or adoption of a child or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.  Benefits are funded through employee-paid payroll taxes and based on a percentage of pay.  Workers can take up to six weeks of paid leave in California and New Jersey and up to four weeks in Rhode Island.

Congress is unlikely to answer the president’s call for legislation to direct employers to provide employees with paid sick leave. 

Jon Jukuri is director of NCSL’s Labor and Economic Development Committee. Jeanne Mejeur is a program principal in NCSL’s Legislative Management program and covers labor and employment issues. Email Jon. Email Jeanne.