Coronavirus
Some States Are Making Their Own Covid Paid Leave Plans
The Omicron strain has infected workers at unprecedented rates, but the bipartisan anxiety that pushed Congress to pass a temporary paid sick leave mandate just two years ago is long gone.
Federal inaction is pushing the fight to blue states like California and Illinois, which are debating paid leave policies. Others are expected to follow with their own plans.
“The states are where the real power is,” said Josephine Kalipeni, executive director of Family Values at Work. The advocacy group, which has pushed for more paid leave for years, is now directing its attention away from Washington.
