Matt Lesser

Lesser and Colleagues Advocate For Paid Family and Medical Leave

MIDLDETOWN, CT—Today, State Senator Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) joined United States Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut), State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), State Representative Quentin Phipps (D-Middletown) and Maddie Granato of the Connecticut Campaign for Paid Family and Medical Leave at a press conference at It’s Only Natural Restaurant to discuss the need for paid family and medical leave.

“As a cancer survivor, this is an issue that is personal for me,” said Sen. Lesser. “People should not have to choose between their health and their livelihood. Families who need to spend time at home with their newborn should not have to do so at the expense of a paycheck. We need to pass paid family and medical leave this session. It is our top priority.”

Senate Bill No. 1, “an act concerning paid family and medical leave,” will mandate paid family and medical leave for Connecticut workers. The Labor and Public Employees Committee voted to have formal language developed for Senate Bill No. 1 on January 15.

“We are committed to passing paid family and medical leave this session,” said Sen. Lesser. “It will benefit both the employee and the employer. It will help employers improve retention and productivity. I’m excited to continue to fight to get this passed and provide the residents of Connecticut with paid family and medical leave.”

Currently California, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey mandate paid family and medical leave. Washington D.C. and the state of Washington also passed paid leave. It will go into effect in D.C. and the state of Washington in 2020. Massachusetts will add paid family and medical leave in 2021.