Thread by @KaylaQFrawley

This mornings rant is about #paidfamilyleave in Colorado & how #voters overwhelmingly passed FAMLI

[& employers can now register for CO’s new program finally; employees max 12 weeks of paid leave a yr + 4 additional wks for #pregnancy or #childbirth complications]

#copolitics

Let’s get 1st thing straight - this 🧵 is no insight into the near 15 yrs #advocates fought for #paidfamilyleave at the CO state Capitol before #voters passed it on the #ballot

I, like many folks - came into the advocacy for #FAMLI yrs after lots of fight. Grateful to have it

Many of us worked on the #ballotmeasure in 2020 & #voters approved the program by 57% of the vote ✨ the amount of barriers set in place to #advocate for #paidfamilyleave & #pass it & then #implement it - have been eye opening 👁 to say the least. #copilitics

The cost & how it’s paid for has been the most controversial issue throughout the #advocacy [at least from my perspective] - we’ve had to combat the concern & stigma of expense in various ways.

Employees & employers cover the cost of .9% of the employee’s [paid leave] wage. ✨

For ex: when I was a #policy manager w/ Clayton I made 55k (& worked on the legislation & #ballotmeasure) someone like me would pay in $4 weekly & be matched by employer].

As a single parent who never got paid leave I’d gladly give 5 times that. The pushback has been 🥜

@9to5Colorado led the charge & the task force set up was versatile & our #leaders strategized very well. I’ve been so impressed with the amount of staff I’ve seen lead on #FAMLI coming out of 9to5. From Ashley to Kaitlin, all the way back to Z & of course Judith. 🔥✨🥂🎉💕

Organizations & agencies that have equivalent programs that match principals of #paidfamilyleave can opt to use their program. This has also been a hard part of implementation #advocacy & harmful rhetoric has swayed lots of agencies/orgs/departments to not partake #copilitics

The state & most non profits offer FMLA [VERY DIFFERENT then PAID family medical leave] 🙄 I had this at Safe House Denver, Catholic Charities, & Clayton. I didn’t even know how to inquire about it until I disclosed my pregnancy at SHD. Often, you supplement w/ 3rd party plan:

W/ short term disability & maybe get 2-4 weeks of 60% of your income [real shit situation for a postpartum parent already dealing with being broke] 🙄

BIG highlights of the FAMLI program #voters passed:

✨ any size business can do it
🎉 pre-earned $2.5k in wages qualifies You

w/ those standard #shorttermdisability 3rd party coverage programs [like AFLAC 🦆] #lowincome earners always suffer and it drives #inequities {considering we are further underpaid during such a vulnerable time} - I even had to convince my agent I was pregnant before signing up.

Employers are going to be able to start premium deductions [$ to pay for the plan] on January 1st, 2023. Benefits get to employees Jan 2024

👁 DOES YOUR EMPLOYER KNOW?
✨ DOES YOUR UNION REP KNOW?

Is your #progressive #organization implementing #paidleave ? #copolitics

We know that #wagereplacement should be tied to the #worker [not tied to their relationship to their #employer]

(🙈 neither should #healthinsurance )

we’ve still got some good work to do with #copilitics

Join some LTE #writing w @9to5Colorado here: bit.ly/PaidLeaveCO

The new program will be ran through the newly created DIVISION of FAMLI ✨ w/ CO department of Labor & Employment.

👁employers that employ < 10 employees don’t have to pay the employer 1/2 of the premium
👁 employees are covered if they earn $2.5k in wages in the “base period”

Employees covered by FAMLI ✨ can use their earned paid medical leave for these reasons:

🍼to care for a child filling birth, adoption or placement in foster care
✨to take ‘safe leave’ - get a protection order, or medical or mental health care, or abuse related issues
(Con.)

💆care for a family member w/ a serious health condition
✨ active duty & impending ‘exigency leave’

Now the 💰 parts
#paidfamilymedicalleave

While on leave workers
🎉 receive up to 90% of their ave. weekly wage #economics

Go follow @9to5Colorado to get engaged in #paidfamilyleave & how to ensure you & your employer are up to date 🔥✨ #copilitics

@Unrollme please :)

@UnrollHelper pleaseeee lo siento