“For my staff, caring for children is a labor of love, but it is also grueling work. In return for the work they do, I think it’s important to ensure that my employees can care for themselves and their families. That’s why they have paid sick days, vacation time, and health insurance. A national paid family leave insurance program would enable small businesses like mine to also offer workers paid family and medical leave — time to recover from serious illness, care for a sick loved one, or bond with a new child — without requiring employers to foot the entire bill. Parents often ask about staff turnover when they consider which daycare to use. In the 12 years I’ve been running this business, I’ve experienced little turnover and I believe our policies have a lot to do with it. The FAMILY Act would ensure that high quality caregivers can keep their jobs, even when they must take temporary leaves.
Marcia St. Hilaire-Finn, Owner
