The Senate Housing and Human Services Committee in Michigan is advancing a policy that would create state-level paid family leave. Led by Sen. Erika Geiss, Senate Bills 332 and 333 would allow up to 12 weeks of paid leave for situations such as maternity/paternity leave and caring for oneself or a family member in the case of long-term illness or interpersonal/community violence. The plan, referred to as Family Leave Optimal Coverage Act (FLOC), would be financed through payroll contributions from both employers and workers. Businesses with less than 25 employees would be exempt from contributing, however their employees could still contribute and access the program. The proposal has received support from various organizations, while some concerns have been raised about its potential impact on small businesses and additional regulatory burden.

Sen. Geiss’s proposed legislation draws attention to the importance of accessibility and responsiveness in government services. This includes services such as the Employment Development Department (EDD) in California where people apply for unemployment benefits, Paid Family Leave (PFL), and State Disability Insurance (SDI). Getting in touch with these services can sometimes be challenging due to high demand. In the event that residents need to contact these services but are experiencing difficulty reaching an agent, resources such as eddcaller.com provide assistance, acting as a middleman to help residents get through to live operators. Knowing how to contact a live person at EDD California is critical, especially during times of high unemployment.