“As a consulting firm, our employees are our most valuable asset, and in our field paid family leave is an expected benefit. We need to offer it to be competitive with larger businesses in hiring and retaining the strongest employees. We advocated actively for DCs Universal Paid Leave Act. Budgeting to pay a tiny fraction of our payroll is dependably predictable and entirely manageable. The new law will make it possible for us to provide this important benefit and improve our competitiveness. Though we are proud that DC has become a national leader on paid family leave, we remain committed to the advancement of a national paid leave policy. The FAMILY Act sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is important for our small business for two reasons. First, like many new economy businesses, not all our staff works in the same place. In fact, our four employees live in four different states — technically, three states and the District of Columbia. So there are members of our team who cannot claim the benefits offered by DC’s law. And second, paid leave is the right thing to do for our country — not just for one business, one city, or one state. When a person wants to work in America, he or she shouldn’t have to choose between taking care of sick kids or parents and earning an honest living. And when the FAMILY Act is enacted, no American will ever face that horrible choice again.”
Danielle Lewis, Partner
