Will Minnesota lawmakers stand by family caregivers? AARP

Will Minnesota lawmakers stand by family caregivers?

Pass Paid Family and Medical Leave

Staying home when you or a loved one is sick with a serious health condition shouldn't mean losing your pay, or even your job. Across Minnesota, 640,000 family caregivers help their older parents, spouses, and other loved ones live independently at home - most while juggling a full or part-time job. 

Minnesota lawmakers are considering legislation that would guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers caring for a seriously ill family member or a worker's own serious health condition. 

Without the option to take paid leave, working caregivers must cut back on their work hours or drop out of the workforce entirely. Paid Family and Medical Leave would allow family caregivers the flexibility they need to balance work and their important role as a caregiver and provide time off for one's own serious health condition.

Urge your lawmakers to pass Paid Family and Medical Leave for all Minnesotans.

RECIPIENTS:

  • Your Senator
  • Your Representative

AARP Minnesota: 1919 University Ave W, Suite 500, St. Paul MN 55104.

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Your Message
Pass Paid Family and Medical Leave
Dear Decision Maker,

I'm writing to ask you to make family caregivers a priority this year by supporting the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.

Minnesota’s 640,000 family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system. They play an essential role in caring for their older parents, spouses, or other loved ones helping delay expensive nursing home care. Most do this while also juggling a full or part-time job.

Without the option to take paid leave, working caregivers must cut back on their work hours or drop out of the workforce entirely. Paid Family and Medical Leave would allow family caregivers the flexibility they need to balance work and their important role as a caregiver.

The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (SF2/HF2) would provide up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement during pregnancy and medical leave and up to 12 weeks of family leave for bonding with a new child or to care for a seriously ill family member.

Minnesotans have repeatedly called for state lawmakers to support working family caregivers and recognize their value to the state. The economic value of the work provided by family caregivers in Minnesota caring for an aging parent or relative is about $8 billion. But caregiving demands come with a huge sacrifice with effects felt across years or a lifetime due to lost wages or jobs, reduced Social Security benefits, and physical and emotional stress.

Paid Family and Medical Leave also benefits workers, employers and the economy by helping family caregivers remain on their jobs. Not only do paid family and medical leave programs give workers a measure of economic security, but they are also shown to improve health and benefit businesses by reducing turnover, boosting productivity, and enhancing morale.

It's time to prioritize and address the needs of family caregivers if we expect to meet the demands of an aging Minnesota and help Minnesotans stay in the workforce and provide care to their loved ones.

I urge you to pass a paid leave program this year.

Thank you.

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]