NY democrats confident about passing paid family leave
Maria Cortes had to miss two days of work this month to care for her husband when he had eye surgery, the latest of a slew of health issues he’s had that have taken her away from her job as a home health aide.
“You don’t go to work, you don’t get no pay,” said Cortes, of Brooklyn. She’d like to take more time to care for her husband but doesn’t have the option. “When the check comes short, you say, ‘What am I going to do?’ Because you have to pay the bills.”
Cortes is among those hoping New York soon joins California, Rhode Island and New Jersey in creating a system that allows workers paid time off to care for a sick loved one or a new child. After years of pushing paid family leave bills in the Legislature, advocates say broad public support and a new vocal champion in Gov. Andrew Cuomo make them increasingly optimistic.