NFIB participated in the HR 118 Task Force to study paid family and medical leave programs around the country and make recommendations about how such a program might be structured in Louisiana. 

NFIB State Director Dawn McVea sat on the task force and provided testimony on the overall landscape of these programs around the country. She pointed out that no such program exists in surrounding states and said Louisiana is not positioned to be a leader in the area given the current economic challenges on inflation, supply chain, and labor shortages.

“Knowing small employers do everything they can to provide benefits and leave options that work for their business model and employees, we opposed any effort by the task force to mandate a paid sick leave program for Louisiana,” McVea said.

McVea and other business advocates said mandatory leave would overburden small employers with a one-size-fits-all program they cannot afford, especially right now in the face of rising labor costs and poor labor quality.

NFIB will continue to fight against any mandate that takes away an employer’s ability to determine benefit and leave policies that work best for their business.