The establishment of a family and medical leave insurance program; family leave to care for a family member and for the active duty of a family member; the employers that must allow an employee to take family or medical leave; allowing a local government to adopt ordinances requiring employers to provide leave benefits; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; providing an exemption from rule-making procedures; granting rule-making authority; making an appropriation; and providing a penalty. (FE)
This legislation marks a significant expansion of family and medical leave protections for Wisconsin workers by lowering the employee threshold for employers required to provide such benefits from 50 to just 1. This change aims to enhance job security and allow a wider range of employees to take necessary family or medical leave without the risk of losing their jobs. The establishment of an insurance program is also expected to support individuals financially while they take leave, relying on contributions from both employees and employers to fund the program effectively.
Senate Bill 1064 establishes a family and medical leave insurance program in Wisconsin, allowing employees to take up to 12 weeks of family leave for reasons including the birth, adoption, or placement of a child and up to 14 weeks for any combination of family leave. The bill extends eligibility for leave to cases involving a family member's serious health condition and provides certain protections for employees who need leave due to a family member's active duty military service. Furthermore, it requires employers to maintain health insurance coverage for employees while on leave and ensure they are returned to the same or a similar position upon their return.
Debates surrounding SB1064 may stem from concerns over increased financial obligations for employers, particularly small businesses, who may find the requirement to fund family leave challenging. Additionally, the bill allows local governments to enact more generous leave policies than state law provides, which could lead to debates about regulatory consistency across the state. Critics argue that without adequate provisions for small businesses, such requirements could result in financial strain or unintended consequences, such as reduced hiring or layoffs.