February 7, 2023
Washington, D.C. – The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) endorses the Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, introduced today by Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI). If passed, the bill would guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave for federal employees in all instances covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
“Federal employees deserve to keep their jobs and income when faced with a medical emergency or when caring for a loved one during a crisis,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “As a model employer for the nation, it is in the best interest of the U.S. government to provide excellent benefits to our hard-working civil servants. Not only is it an honorable approach to supporting our public workers, but it will also save the government millions of dollars year to year in turnover and recruitment costs for outgoing employees who are forced to leave their jobs when they fall ill or need to take care of a family member.”
The bill guarantees 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a spouse, child, or parent suffering from a serious health condition. It also covers the employee should they have a medical emergency of their own that prevents them from performing the functions of their position.
“During a medical crisis, the last thing a civil servant should have to worry about is how they are going to pay their bills or feed their family,” continued Erwin. “For far too long, federal employees have had to choose between caring for a sick loved one or going into work to earn their paycheck. This legislation will eliminate this distressing situation. Thank you to Representative Beyer and Senator Schatz for their unwavering support of federal employees. NFFE is looking forward to working with Congress to pass this critical legislation into law.”