I am a full time dietary worker in a nursing home. I’m also a parent, and I get some paid family leave, but not enough.
I’m worried about having a sick family member.
I have a millennial daughter and husband who is employed. I also have an ageing parent who may need me to care for her in the near future. I also have other ageing relatives who I want to spend time with at the end of their life. I don't want to worry that my employer and managers might make me feel obligated to work during these events because we are short staffed.
When I was pregnant, I relied on 6 weeks family leave, vacation and sick time to take a few months off.
Yet it wasn't nearly enough. Then I discovered that my cousin's wife said in her country, Sweden, they give new moms 2 years paid leave. I do think more than 6 weeks are needed for infant care. If the top 1% paid taxes like the rest of us, 2 years might be possible. And if a close family member became severely ill, more than 6 weeks should be granted.
For the love of humanity, the way to make our country great again, is to take better care of our citizens.
You should support paid family leave because the family is the foundation of life and we need to nurture safe environments without worrying that we can care for our families and maintain our jobs.
