Small Business Majority: California's First-In-The-National Paid Leave Program Is Now More Equitable For Small Businesses And Their Low-Wage Workers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 (TNStalk) -- Small Business Majority issued the following statement on Oct. 3, 2022, and letter:

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Statement by Bianca Blomquist, California Policy Director of Small Business Majority, lauding Governor Newsom's decision to sign SB 951 and expand paid family leave

"On September 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 951 (SB 951), historic legislation that brings greater equity to California's Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs. We applaud the governor's efforts to improve policies that allow small business owners and their employees to take the time they need to care for a family member, regardless of their income.

"Small business owners know it makes good business sense to take care of their employees, as it's crucial to retaining a productive and talented workforce. In fact, close to 100 California small business owners and business organizations, including the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, signed their names to a letter urging Governor Newsom to make worker-funded PFL and SDI more accessible to California's low-wage workers.

"Our polling reveals that more than 6 in 10 small business owners say they support a proposal to increase the wage replacement amount to 90% for low-wage employees and 75% for everyone else. California's PFL program can help to level the playing field for small business owners who want to provide quality jobs, but Californians recognize that more could be done to create healthcare equity. We echoed this sentiment in the September 22 celebration of 20 years after the enactment of the Paid Leave Program. SB 951 creates that equity and facilitates greater wage replacement rates to ensure this critical program provides a living wage for participants.

"We are proud to support a bill that promotes equitable access to affordable healthcare and allows a more significant percentage of the workforce to take care of a loved one without threats to their financial security. By signing SB 951, Governor Newsom sent a message to small business employees and entrepreneurs that he prioritizes paid leave and values working families and their businesses."

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August 29, 2022

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Expanding the Paid Family Leave program to support low-income families

Dear Governor Newsom,

As small business advocates, small business owners and California's job creators, we write in strong support of SB 951, legislation that would make worker-funded Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) more accessible to California's low-wage workers.

California's PFL program levels the playing field for California small business owners who want to provide quality jobs to our workers. We are proud to operate in a state that has prioritized paid leave, but our workers and families need more.

This is why we stand together to urge you to update the wage replacement rates for PFL in California. More than 6 in 10 (61%) small business owners say they support a proposal to increase the wage replacement amount to 90% for low-wage employees (anyone earning less than $45,000 annually) and to 75% for non-low-wage workers.

California's current PFL and SDI programs do not benefit low-wage employers or their employees. Under the current program, workers earning more than 33% of the statewide quarterly wage receive only 60% of their regular wages through PFL and SDI. Californian's lowest-waged workers earning below 33% of the statewide quarterly income rate receive only 70% of their regular income. This makes paid leave unaffordable to too many workers. In comparison to other states with paid leave programs, California's wage replacement rate falls behind nearly every other state. California's PFL program may have been the first of its kind in the country, but it is far from being the most reflective of small businesses and their workers' needs.

Californians should be able to heal, care for family or welcome a new child, regardless of their income. A 90% wage replacement rate would make this possible. As employers, we have seen the benefits of paid family leave first hand. So, we ask that you take action to pass SB 951 immediately.

Sincerely,

Small businesses:

Jonathan Burgess, CEO, BurgessBrothers, Sacramento, CA

Shanae Smith, Owner, Max-40 Fitness and Personal Training, Riverside, CA

Ludmila Parada, President, Nelly's Childcare and Pre-school, Campbell, CA

Kori Saika Chen, Owner, Alkali Beverage Shop, Oakland, CA

Stacy Williams, Owner/Consultant, Valley Progressive Solutions LLC, Fresno, CA

Hannah Gbeh, Owner-Operator, Bee Valley Farm, Bonsall, CA

Stephen Bray, CEO, Judge Casey's, San Francisco, CA

Ania Kaminska, CEO, Worksters, San Diego, CA

Pep Cearnal, Founder / CEO, Alegro Private Tours, San Francisco, CA

Rachel Klein, CEO, Fire Starter Studios / Solaris Media Group, Valencia, CA

Prisca Gloor, CEO, Counseling Solutions for Children and Families, Los Angeles, CA

Renaldo Sanders, Owner, Sanders Family Day Care, Compton, CA

Antonio Angeles, Manager, Freedom Equity Group, San Jose, CA

Kirk Vartan, General Manager, A Slice of New York, San Jose, CA

Ana Corona, Provider, Corona Family Child Care, Los Angeles, CA

Lucinda Tincher, President, Meals for All, Inc., Gold River, CA

Barbara Selhorst, Business Manager, Los Cenzontles Mexican Arts Center, San Pablo, CA

Yvonne Guyton-Johnson, Real Estate Broker, Highland Realty, Richmond, CA

Zayda Herrador, Kofk Hair Salon, Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Maria Luisa Espinoza, Espinoza FCC AKA Espinoza's Preschool & Child Care, Oxnard, CA

David Green, President/COO, Visual Terrain, Inc., Santa Clarita, CA

Jason Vincent Campbell, Real Estate Salesperson, Ethos & Equity Reality, Los Angeles, CA

Kamran Khan, President, NativelyFluent.com, Lake Forest, CA

Joy Clarke-Holmes, General Manager, Bridgetown Roti LLC, Los Angeles, CA

Willie Ellison, CEO, Sapphire Marketing Inc, San Bernardino, CA

Sallie Yang, CEO, Tap Electronics, Buena Park, CA

Mimi Ly, Owner, Curves, Los Altos, CA

Rhanda Ferro Jackson, Child Care Owner, Jackson Family Child Care and Foster Family Respite Care, Los Angeles, CA

Kim Truong, Owner, Pinkie's Childcare, West Sacramento, CA

Dean Stephens, Moderator, Researcher, Strategist, Founder, Happy Talk Research, Los Angeles, CA

Jonathan Leung, Director of Operations, Law Office of Maximilian Lee, Santa Ana, CA

Deanne Gustafson, Owner, Kombucha On Tap, Oceanside, CA

Sherry Soleski, President, Comet Corn Popcorn, Santa Rosa, CA

Shelley Enriquez, CEO, Cascade Ventures, Inc, Redding, CA

Terri Stewart, Owner, Paso Robles Health Food, Paso Robles, CA

Jo Ann Shane, Owner, Shane & Associates, Fallbrook, CA

Maria Montoya, Owner, Marias Housekeeping, Fresno, CA

Keiona Williamson, Owner, Drip Espresso, Sacramento, CA

Jessica Palacios, Manager, Once Upon A Time Bookstore, Montrose, CA

Deonna Fry, Family Child Care Provider, Learn Out Loud Preschool & Childcare, Orangevale, CA

Prashante Bailey, CEO/ Sales rep product manufacturer, PurSpace Herbal Care, Sacramento, CA

Allan Alaguena, Life Agent, Premier Financial Alliance, Sacramento, CA

Anastasia Collins, Lab Tech, Phlebotomy, Sacramento, CA

Eve Viloria, Owner, Divine Hire LLC, Sacramento, CA

Corissa Hernandez, Owner, Craft Beer Cellar Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA

Christina Taylor, Owner, PrettiGurl Wellness, Fresno, CA

Darrell Vartanian, Process Server, Sun Valley, CA

Maiya Holliday, CEO, Mangrove Web, Truckee, CA

Kathleen Mueller, Owner, Tienda Salsita, Healdsburg, CA

Felicia Armelin, Owner, Tacc, Inc, Sacramento, CA

Belinda Vanzant, Contract Manager, Sacramento, CA

Kristin Horowitz, CEO, The Pad Climbing, San Luis Obispo, CA

Rachel Ricottone, Independent, Rachel Ricottone Styling, Huntington Beach, CA

Jessica Diggs, Owner/Midwife, Jessica Diggs Midwifery Corporation, Los Angeles, CA

Desiree, Nguyen Orth, Member / Owner, Creatives' Legal Resource, Alameda, CA

Deanna DeCosimo, Owner, DeCosimo Law, Glendale, CA

Jennifer Diaz, Owner, Rosita Ranch, Stonyford, CA

Iva Chen, Owner, Lady Luck Gourmet, Millbrae, CA

Antonio Angeles, Manager, Antonio Angeles Agency, San Jose, CA

Sadie Scheffer, CEO, Bread SRSLY, Berkeley, CA

Naomi Leight-Giveon, Project manager, Meteorite, Los Angeles, CA

Yvonne Duncan, Owner, Self-employed, Modesto, CA

Organizations:

Small Business Majority

CalAsian Chamber of Commerce

ConsultrEX

Microenterprise Collaborative of Inland Southern California

Consumer Federation of California

Prospera

Arcata Economic Development Corporation

California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity - CAMEO

California Capital Financial Development Corporation

Pacific Community Ventures

Californians for Economic Justice

West Business Development Center

Latino Business Network and Allies

East Bay Community Law Center

Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce

Small Business California

California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Public Law Center

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Original text here: https://smallbusinessmajority.org/press-release/california-s-first-national-paid-leave-program-now-more-equitable-small-businesses-and-their-low-wage-workers