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

For Immediate Release: 
Thursday, October 24, 2024

Ninety percent of South Carolina small employers favor a national program funded by both employee and employer contributions

 

A scientific opinion poll released today shows that an overwhelming majority of South Carolina 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 90% of South Carolina 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. 

“When it comes to paid family and medical leave, it’s not a matter of if small businesses need a standardized policy, it’s a question of how quickly can we make it happen,” said Small Business Majority Founder and CEO John Arensmeyer. “Unfortunately, our existing landscape leaves small businesses to mostly fend for themselves regarding family and medical leave. This patchwork response to a nearly universal problem isn’t working, and it’s hurting small business’ bottom lines. After so many years of indefensible inaction on this issue, we need to move forward with a national paid family and medical leave program so that small businesses and their employees don’t have to choose between caring for loved ones or paying their bills.” 

Additionally, the survey found that 62% of South Carolina small businesses currently offer paid medical leave for serious health needs, while about half (55%) 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, 59% offer one month or less. 

  • Among those offering paid leave for pregnancy or childbirth, 52% offer one month or less. 

  • Among those offering some paid parental leave for a newborn child, 53% offer one month or less.  

  • Among those offering paid parental leave of adoptive and/or foster parents, 90% offer one month or less. 

  • Among those offering paid family leave to care for relatives with serious health needs, 72% 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 ninety 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, 87% of South Carolina small businesses said that they would like to provide more paid leave than their business can currently afford, and are more than twice as likely (69%) to support a universal paid family and medical leave program over a voluntary insurance program that businesses would choose to buy into (29%). 

What’s more, the need for additional paid family and medical leave options among small businesses and their employees isn’t theoretical: more than three-quarters (78%) of South Carolina 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: 56% took more than a week of leave to care for an immediate family member, and 15% took leave to care for an extended family member or friend. 

The survey reflects a poll of 105 South Carolina small business owners. It has a margin of error of +/- 9.6%.

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

 

About Small Business Majority

Small Business Majority is a national small business organization that empowers America's diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy. We engage our network of more than 85,000 small businesses and 1,500 business and community organizations to advocate for public policy solutions and deliver resources to entrepreneurs that promote equitable small business growth. Our deep connections with the small business community along with our scientific research enable us to educate the public about key issues impacting America’s entrepreneurs, with a special focus on advancing the smallest businesses and those facing systemic inequalities. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram.

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