The impact of Colorado’s FAMLI program on small businesses

In January 2024, Colorado launched the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, offering up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers dealing with serious health or family-related needs. While many small business owners support paid leave and value taking care of their employees, they’ve faced hurdles navigating FAMLI.

To better understand small business perspectives, Small Business Majority held focus groups with entrepreneurs from southern Colorado. Fourteen business owners shared both their support for the program and the challenges they’ve encountered, from confusing requirements to limited awareness and communication. Their feedback highlights opportunities to improve outreach, education, and support for small businesses eager to facilitate employees’ access to the paid time off they need to care for themselves and their families while ensuring that the business does not bear the financial cost alone.

Read the full report to learn more about their experiences.