Month: January 2021

LTE: Supporting family medical leave bill

Posted on by Tara Jensen

The Legislature should establish paid family and medical leave. I have benefited from paid leave because my job provides it, but in the past, I suffered without it.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I saved all my time off, but it was only a few weeks and then I had to return to work. My husband was in school and we needed the money. Paid family leave would have let me spend more time with my newborn.

Years later, my son suffered a traumatic brain injury. I spent many days driving from Helena to Missoula where he was hospitalized for over a month. I couldn’t take time off work because we were financially strained under hospital bills. Paid leave would have lessened my family’s pain.

Now as a state employee, I have access to paid leave. This allowed me priceless time with my parents in their final days. I didn’t have to choose between income and my parents, knowing I would still have a job afterwards. Paid leave would allow Montanans to care for sick family members, while continuing to pay bills and knowing their job will still be there. I urge the Legislature to pass HB 228.

Guest View: HB 228 helps Montana women and families

Posted on by Tara Jensen

A recent study conducted by Montana State University researchers confirmed what we have long suspected — women in Montana are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 with substantial impacts on daily life, workplace disruptions, economic concerns and mental load.

House Bill 228 will ensure that women will not have to choose between caring for their families and keeping their jobs. Please tell your representative to support HB 228.

Women in Montana are business owners, workers, students, parents and more. Women contribute to our economy and build futures for their families. However, it most often falls to the women in our lives to be the one to take time off to care for a new baby, to assist aging parents, and most recently to coordinate “zoom school,” educational assistance, and care for their children during COVID-19.

Bearing the weight of these additional responsibilities has long-term consequences for women — especially when it comes to career advancement and their ability to increase earning potential over their lifetime. In fact, due to existing inequities (including lesser salary), it is most often the women in the family unit who will leave their employment to deal with family matters.

It’s time for Montana to join the growing number of states across the country who have passed a paid family and medical leave plan. The Montana Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, brought by Rep. Moffie Funk, would work like unemployment insurance so that men and women alike have access to paid leave to care for their families during times of crisis without sacrificing their economic stability.

Women leaving the workforce is also a blow to our economy. Nationally, The Center for American Progress and The Century Foundation’s recent report estimates that the risk of mothers leaving the workforce and reducing hours in order to assume caretaking responsibilities amounts to $64.5 billion per year in lost wages and economic activity.

The Women’s Foundation of Montana is focused on breaking down barriers to equity for Montana’s women and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that a lack of accessible paid family and medical leave is a major barrier for many Montana women to remain in the workplace. It is also a major factor in the economic security of families, many of whom rely on the income of mothers.

LTE: Supporting paid leave policy

Posted on by Tara Jensen

As a bladder cancer survivor and business owner, I support the Montana Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act — an affordable means for families to manage care.

When I was diagnosed I had three part-time jobs and received no benefits or leave. To treat a rare cancer removed, I traveled to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and lived near the hospital for a month after surgery. I had to quit working to avoid common illnesses that threatened my compromised immune system. My partner was a public employee, but we weren’t yet allowed to marry and couldn’t take federal Family Medical Leave, nor were we allowed to request vacation/sick day donations from colleagues. We used up every bit of vacation and sick time.

We relied on donations and charity care from friends and family during the year I couldn’t work. Without that support, I may not have been able to pursue life-saving treatment.

Many people don’t have that support, but everyone should be allowed time for treatment, recovery and caregiving.

A paid leave policy will create an insurance fund to provide necessary leave. Montana should allow people to recover and return to work with their family’s support.

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