Workforce benefits

On April 11, Small Business Majority's Vice President, Policy & Advocacy David Chase submitted a letter to policymakers and elected officials in support of HF2, legislation that would create a state-run paid family and medical leave program for Minnesotans. This program would allow small businesses in the state to access and offer this benefit for their employees, helping them overcome obstacles in attracting and retaining a ready workforce.

On April 10, Small Business Majority's Vice President, Policy & Advocacy David Chase submitted letters to policymakers and elected officials in support of establishing a state-run paid family and medical leave program for Mainers. Such a program would allow small businesses to access and offer this benefit for their employees, helping them overcome obstacles in attracting and retaining a ready workforce.

On April 7, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the U.S. Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, urging the committee to confirm the nomination of Julie Su as the next Secretary of Labor. Deputy Secretary Su is collaborative, works well with small business groups, and will ensure that small businesses and their employees are truly supported and prioritized. 

Ahead of a hearing in the New Mexico Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee, Awesta Sarkash, Public Policy Director, submitted a letter of support for SB 11, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The bill would create a state-run paid family and medical leave fund that employers and their employees can take advantage of during critical health-related moments. 

On October 17, Small Business Majority and Good Business Colorado submitted comments to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on proposed rules for private plans in the Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. The FAMLI program is an essential program for Colorado, which will provide employees of small businesses with access to paid family leave, and help small firms compete with larger companies.

On August 29, small businesses and business organizations signed their names to a letter urging Governor Newsom to make worker-funded Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) more accessible to California’s low-wage workers. The letter outlines how California’s PFL program can level the playing field for California small business owners who want to provide quality jobs for their workers.

Today, John Arensmeyer testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship at a hearing, "The Small Business Workforce Challenge: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions." More than two years into the pandemic, small businesses are slowly rebuilding but need a vibrant stable workforce to fully recover. Entrepreneurs, especially those in under-resourced communities, need an array of support to address labor shortages and ensure employees are able to come back to the workforce. Mr.

Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 2589, which would make the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) more impactful and overall improve access to the California tax system for low to moderate income small business owners and employees. 

Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 2847, an investment of $690 million to create an Excluded Workers Program for employees in California who are excluded from unemployment insurance. This would ensure that all unemployed workers have the resources they need to recover and continue to support local small businesses.