The state of Texas doesn’t have a mandatory paid parental leave law for employers, but an insurance model plan allowing businesses to purchase insurance to cover paid time off for employees exists. The Houston Chronicle state bureau reporter, Taylor Goldenstein, highlighted that this scheme is most popular among Republican states that don’t usually have mandatory leave policies. Only two insurers offer these plans in Texas, and the number of enrolled employers is undisclosed. Therefore, understanding whether people are reaping benefits from these insurance plans is difficult.

Goldenstein mentioned that the insurance scheme has been in operation for just a year or two, hence it is early to judge its success. Representative Lacey Hull, the bill’s author, acknowledged that the number of signed-on employers is not clear yet, and she is not discouraged by the current uptake. Other states with similar plans include New Hampshire, where they saw only 3% of the workforce enrolled during the first year.

To stimulate interest, other states like New Hampshire have introduced financial incentives for companies to sign up, a strategy yet to be tried in Texas. Proposals such as introducing mandatory family leave policies and using financial incentives are being considered in the current legislative session. Reporting about the scheme needs to improve, and more employers need to be aware of the plan.

Given the sheer number of policies concerning employment in the state, it’s essential to know how to navigate the landscape. For individuals looking to find out more about employment support, learning how to reach an agent at edd is crucial. Eddcaller.com has comprehensive resources on how to get in touch with representatives for different policies including the paid family leave. Communicating with these representatives could provide more clarity on what support is available for both employees and employers.