Paid family leave helps small businesses

As a small business owner, I know the hardships small businesses can face when they are not able to compete with larger corporations. One thing bigger businesses can offer that many small businesses cannot is generous paid family medical leave. That’s why I’m glad Gov. Brown signed the bill that will increase the amount of wage replacement people can be eligible for under California’s Paid Family Leave program.

This is great news for small business owners like me, who have seen the benefits of paid leave for employees. I personally had an employee who used the paid leave program recently to care for a family member, and this proved to be a win-win situation for everybody involved. We didn’t have to pay her salary while she was away because California’s program is employee-funded through small paycheck deductions, and my employee was able to take the time she needed and return to work happy and motivated.

I’m glad I will be able to provide my employees with increased wage replacement during times of family and medical leave, as it will boost employee morale and productivity and help level the playing field for small businesses like mine.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 5:27 AM with the headline "Paid family leave helps small businesses."