New Poll Finds Pennsylvania Small Businesses Strongly Support Paid Family and Medical Leave Policies

A scientific opinion poll released today shows that an overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania small companies support a national paid family and medical leave program funded by a combination of employee and employer contributions. 

The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of Small Business Majority and the National Partnership for Women & Families, found that 78% of Pennsylvania small businesses support enacting a national paid family leave program that would guarantee employees wage replacement for up to 12 weeks, funded by shared employer and employee contributions of 0.5% each. 

“Most Pennsylvania small businesses support the establishment of a national paid family and medical leave program because they recognize that a sick or distracted employee presents a problem for their business, plus they know that paid leave benefits are also a great way to retain staff,” said Small Business Majority Public Policy Director Awesta Sarkash. “Although many small companies already offer formal or informal leave policies, in many cases that is not enough. A federal policy would go a long way toward helping entrepreneurs and their employees through difficult times, while also benefiting business owners’ bottom lines.”

Additionally, the survey found that 48% of Pennsylvania small businesses currently offer paid medical leave for serious health needs, while less than half (43%) offer some form of paid parental leave for parents with a newborn child. However, many of the small businesses that offer paid family or medical leave are unable to offer robust policies on par with the three-month leave that would be covered under a potential nationwide program. In fact: 

• Among those offering paid medical leave, 54% offer one month or less. 

• Among those offering paid leave for pregnancy or childbirth, 54% offer one month or less. 

• Among those offering some paid parental leave for a newborn child, 51% offer one month or less.  

• Among those offering paid parental leave of adoptive and/or foster parents, 82% offer one month or less. 

• Among those offering paid family leave to care for relatives with serious health needs, 84% offer one month or less.

“Small business owners know that investments in their staff are what helps keep their businesses thriving and their doors open,” said Jocelyn C. Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The fact that seventy-eight percent of small business owners support paid family leave make this truth crystal clear. No matter their age or the season of life, whether they’re caring for a new child, an elderly loved one or caring for themselves, policies that support work-life balance make a major difference in the lives of employees – and businesses see positive growth as a result.”

Given these limited existing offerings, 82% of Pennsylvania small businesses said that they would like to provide more paid leave than their business can currently afford, and are nearly twice as likely (60%) to support a universal paid family and medical leave program over a voluntary insurance program that businesses would choose to buy into (35%). 

What’s more, the need for additional paid family and medical leave options among small businesses and their employees isn’t theoretical: more than 6 in 10 (61%) of Pennsylvania small business owners have had employees take extended leave to care for a new child, for their own health needs, or to care for a family member with a serious illness. Many small business owners have also taken extended absences themselves: 49% took more than a week of leave to care for an immediate family member, and 24% took leave to care for an extended family member or friend. 

The survey reflects a poll of 129 Pennsylvania small business owners. It has a margin of error of +/- 8.6%.

For the full poll report, please visit: https://smallbusinessmajority.org/our-research/workforce/pennsylvania-small-businesses-support-paid-family-and-medical-leave