DOL Asks Public for Input on Paid Leave as Virus Renews Debate

The Labor Department wants the public to provide feedback on state and employer-provided paid-leave policies, a request that comes as the coronavirus pandemic has intensified calls for expanded access to paid family- and sick-leave benefits.

The department published a request for information Wednesday that asked for public assessments of the effectiveness of existing laws in states such as Washington, California, and Connecticut that mandate paid leave for workers who are caring for a family member or have recently become a new parent.

The agency also solicited comment on voluntary paid-leave programs offered by employers, including many with higher-skilled workforces.

The ...