For Business Support of Paid Leave, the Devil is in the Details

If members of Congress hope to take their lead on paid leave proposals from businesses, they’ll have to wade through a sea of mixed messages.

Efforts to pass a federal paid leave law got a big boost this year when President Joe Biden included a paid leave proposal in his American Families Plan. But getting legislation through the closely divided Senate will require Democrats to win over the support of at least 10 Republicans or else use the Senate’s budget-reconciliation process, which might limit the features or employer mandates that could be included.

And, while worker advocates are largely unified ...