Government affairs

Legislative Updates

Paid family and medical leave bill introduced in Senate

Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act (S. 1158) in the Senate today. The bill, which mirrors H.R. 564 introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in the House in January, would provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave for federal employees, including Postal Service employees.

A similar bill previously passed in the House during the 116th Congress, but the Senate narrowed the legislation to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act, which ultimately did not include USPS employees.

Employees could use this paid leave for personal illness, caring for a family member, or time off work needed for a family member leaving or returning from active military duty. Currently, federal employees are entitled to 12 weeks of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for such reasons, but it is not guaranteed paid leave.

“The current public health crisis has shown us why it’s so important to have strong paid leave policies, but our current laws are still forcing federal workers to make the impossible choice between caring for their families and keeping their jobs,” said Senator Schatz in a statement. “Our bill will provide federal workers with 12 weeks of paid leave, giving them the time they need to take care of their own health and their loved ones.”

NALC will continue to monitor this legislation and will update letter carriers on any future actions.

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