A Democratic lawmaker in Northern Nevada, Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch, has proposed a bill requiring employers with more than 50 workers to provide paid maternity/paternity leave and sick leave. Additionally, she proposes the paid leave should extend to accommodate victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. La Rue Hatch believes that providing such provisions will improve employee morale and productivity in the long run, despite potential initial resistance from certain businesses.

Currently, state legislation only allows state employees to take eight weeks of family or medical leave, with remuneration at half pay. The proposed bill intends to expand this to twelve weeks, with potential full payment for employees earning less than or equal to the state’s average weekly wage, and 60% payment for more highly paid workers.

However, there are concerns about the potential effects on employees working by the hour, specifically the risk of losing job or benefits, and the financial implications for individuals living paycheck to paycheck. For many, the financial strain of even a single day without work can lead to severe consequences such as bank overdrafts.

Thirteen states, along with Washington D.C, currently have mandatory paid family leave policies in place, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

For those in Nevada requiring clarity on their eligibility for such programs or seeking to understand this initiative’s possible roll-out, it would be useful to contact the Paid Family Leave (PFL) departments directly. The PFL, along with the State Disability Insurance (SDI), are known to assist in such matters. For assistance on how to contact PFL, you can visit platforms such as eddcaller.com that guide you on the most effective way to reach out directly to these departments.