US Politics

Governor Cuomo vetoes bill allowing paid bereavement leave

Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have allowed workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave after the death of a family member.

The bill expanding the state's paid family leave law was opposed by the Business Council and other business groups. The council said it would have been too burdensome for employers, especially small businesses.

The legislation was sponsored by Republican Sen. Rich Funke and former Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle, who's now a congressman. Funke had a son who died in 2001 and Morelle lost a daughter to cancer in 2017.

The bill's memo notes that employers provide an average of four days of bereavement leave for the death of a spouse or child.

Democrat Cuomo vetoed the bill Friday.

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Duffy issued the following statement:

“Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce thanks Governor Cuomo for his understanding of the burdens that adding bereavement leave to the paid family leave law would place upon business and for his leadership in vetoing the bill. Rochester Chamber respects the bill's sponsors and their intent to ensure families have time to properly mourn the loss of loved ones. However, members have shared with us that the benefits provided by the bereavement leave bill would have posed undue difficulties on business in both cost and staff productivity. Governor Cuomo heard this from Rochester Chamber members as well as businesses across the state and took the appropriate action.”
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https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news...l-allowing-paid-bereavement-leave/1679171352?
 
Sorry didn't read properly. That bill is perfectly reasonable and shouldve been passed.
 
Cal? said:
12 weeks is excessive, is there any additional information?
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It wouldn't be excessive if it was, say, a child for example. It says "up to 12 weeks", so I'd presume the 12 weeks would be for the most extreme bereavements like that. Although I imagine a sudden dramatic increase would potentially be problematic for small businesses if they don't really have the money to employ someone in the meantime. Although in such cases there'd maybe be an argument for state aid of some kind if the business provides a valuable service.
 
Cal? said:
12 weeks is excessive, is there any additional information?
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Feck load of hoops you have to jump through to get the leave to begin with.

to read as follows:
24 1. Written notice and proof of disability or proof of need for family
25 leave shall be furnished to the employer by or on behalf of the employee
26 claiming benefits or, in the case of a claimant under section two
27 hundred seven of this article, to the chair, within thirty days after
28 commencement of the period of disability. Additional proof shall be
29 furnished thereafter from time to time as the employer or carrier or
30 chair may require but not more often than once each week. Such proof
31 shall include a statement of disability by the employee's attending
32 physician or attending podiatrist or attending chiropractor or attending
33 dentist or attending psychologist or attending certified nurse midwife
34 or family leave care recipient's health care provider, or in the case of
35 an employee who adheres to the faith or teachings of any church or
36 denomination, and who in accordance with its creed, tenets or principles
37 depends for healing upon prayer through spiritual means alone in the
38 practice of religion, by an accredited practitioner, containing facts
39 and opinions as to such disability in compliance with regulations of the
40 chair. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLAIMANT IS ELIGIBLE FOR FAMILY LEAVE DUE
41 TO BEREAVEMENT, A DEATH CERTIFICATE SHALL SERVE AS PROOF OF NEED OF
42 LEAVE. Failure to furnish notice or proof within the time and in the
43 manner above provided shall not invalidate the claim but no benefits
44 shall be required to be paid for any period more than two weeks prior to
45 the date on which the required proof is furnished unless it shall be
46 shown to the satisfaction of the chair not to have been reasonably
47 possible to furnish such notice or proof and that such notice or proof
48 was furnished as soon as possible; provided, however, that no benefits
49 shall be paid unless the required proof of disability is furnished with-
50 in the period of actual disability or family leave that does not exceed
51 the statutory maximum period permitted under section two hundred four of
52 this article. No limitation of time provided in this section shall run
53 as against any disabled employee who is mentally incompetent, or phys-
54 ically incapable of providing such notice as a result of a serious
55 medical condition, or a minor so long as such person has no guardian of
56 the person and/or property.
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Full text

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/s8380
 
Can see both sides on the bereavement thing. Having worked in the EU and in the US, it's worth considering how bonkers US approach to leave is. I've worked with people that basically haven't taken a holiday in more than 3 or 4 years, and seem proud of it. Paternity leave in the company I was at was one week, and most folks viewed that as quite a good benefit. Maternity leave was only 8 weeks!

So while obviously those in mourning have to be given time, and in a more caring, sensitive society they would, the US workplace and a 12 week dispensation does seem pretty over the top.
 
Beachryan said:
Can see both sides on the bereavement thing. Having worked in the EU and in the US, it's worth considering how bonkers US approach to leave is. I've worked with people that basically haven't taken a holiday in more than 3 or 4 years, and seem proud of it. Paternity leave in the company I was at was one week, and most folks viewed that as quite a good benefit. Maternity leave was only 8 weeks!

So while obviously those in mourning have to be given time, and in a more caring, sensitive society they would, the US workplace and a 12 week dispensation does seem pretty over the top.
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12 weeks for great-grandma passing at age 110 woild be excesaive. But for losing a spouse or child 12 weeks is probably even too short.

Far too much business im America is based on outdated and insane ideas about the 'Protestant work ethic'.
 
Cheesy said:
It wouldn't be excessive if it was, say, a child for example. It says "up to 12 weeks", so I'd presume the 12 weeks would be for the most extreme bereavements like that. Although I imagine a sudden dramatic increase would potentially be problematic for small businesses if they don't really have the money to employ someone in the meantime. Although in such cases there'd maybe be an argument for state aid of some kind if the business provides a valuable service.
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Whilst it’s painful for anyone to lose a child or spouse, it’s no really fair for the employers to have to hand out 3 month leaves.

This will only lead to discrimination against parents (especially with sick children) like some women get discriminated against for potential maternity leave.
InfiniteBoredom said:
Feck load of hoops you have to jump through to get the leave to begin with.

Full text

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/s8380
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Still, 3 months seem excessive.
 
Cal? said:
Whilst it’s painful for anyone to lose a child or spouse, it’s no really fair for the employers to have to hand out 3 month leaves.

This will only lead to discrimination against parents (especially with sick children) like some women get discriminated against for potential maternity leave.

Still, 3 months seem excessive.
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You do realize that this is not a case of ‘you get 3 months, you get three months, everybody get three months’ Oprah style right? It’s more like your dad died of 12 types of cancer, your child got eaten by a coyote while your wife has a miscarriage at the same time, then you get the 3 months.

It’s still feck all compare to the Scandinavian countries. Women can have up to 6 months of maternity leave.
 
Cal? said:
Whilst it’s painful for anyone to lose a child or spouse, it’s no really fair for the employers to have to hand out 3 month leaves.

This will only lead to discrimination against parents (especially with sick children) like some women get discriminated against for potential maternity leave.

Still, 3 months seem excessive.
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An employee should absolutely not be punished if they're struggling with the bereavement of their child after three months. Anyone who thinks said employee should have their wages stripped from them at that point is solidly right-wing. As I've said, if it's a small business who's struggling to cope with the paid loss of an employee for such an extended period then the state should step in. Large companies would be able to afford this anyway so that part's not a problem.
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
You do realize that this is not a case of ‘you get 3 months, you get three months, everybody get three months’ Oprah style right? It’s more like your dad died of 12 types of cancer, your child got eaten by a coyote while your wife has a miscarriage at the same time, then you get the 3 months.

It’s still feck all compare to the Scandinavian countries. Women can have up to 6 months of maternity leave.
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In the UK you (Well, Women) are entitled to upto 12 months but not all of that is full pay, i think Men now get like a month?
 
Eboue said:
Cal is a republican, he just doesnt realize it.
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I maybe a corporate Dem as you like to say, but Republican? Which of their policies do you think I agree with?
Cheesy said:
An employee should absolutely not be punished if they're struggling with the bereavement of their child after three months. Anyone who thinks said employee should have their wages stripped from them at that point is solidly right-wing. As I've said, if it's a small business who's struggling to cope with the paid loss of an employee for such an extended period then the state should step in. Large companies would be able to afford this anyway so that part's not a problem.
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In that case they should be entitled to sick leave if a doctor certifies that they are struggling with bereavement.
 
InfiniteBoredom said:
You do realize that this is not a case of ‘you get 3 months, you get three months, everybody get three months’ Oprah style right? It’s more like your dad died of 12 types of cancer, your child got eaten by a coyote while your wife has a miscarriage at the same time, then you get the 3 months.

It’s still feck all compare to the Scandinavian countries. Women can have up to 6 months of maternity leave.
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That's the entitlement in the UK as well. I don't think having a baby and bereavement are comparable, though. New parents, especially the primary care giver, do need the time to bond with the child; it is not just solely for the employee's benefit but also the warfare of the child, which is why the government covers some of the cost of parental leave.
 
Let's hope this goes somewhere

Bipartisan Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Introduced

The Democracy for All Amendment affirms the right of states and the federal government to pass laws that regulate spending in elections, reversing the concentration of political influence held by the wealthiest Americans and large corporations capable of spending millions of dollars in our elections. This legislation comes days before the ninth anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s disastrous ruling in the Citizens United case.

https://teddeutch.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399461
 
I think America will continue to be held hostage by fewer and fewer people.
 
Adisa said:
I think America will continue to be held hostage by fewer and fewer people.
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So it would seem but the numbers are trending the other way. Every four years millions of old people die off and millions more younger ones enter the voter rolls along with millions of immigrants, so at some point we will reach critical mass and the numbers will begin to overwhelm the existing power structure. And given Trump’s idiocy, it looks like may happen pretty soon.
 
Pexbo said:


I’m in love with her
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I was a bit indifferent but that Boston College dance video has done it for me. I love her. How she has the right squirming and obsessing about finding things to discredit her is beautiful to watch. Still do not like all her ideas and would like her to get more informed on some of the issues.
 
Republicans obsession and hatred for AOC is a sight to behold. It is almost reaching Obama levels now. Given how easily she is able to dominate news cycles, she is probably the best thing to happen to the progressives in US.
 
mike-pence-swearing-in-bisexual-kyrsten-sinema-g0X.png
 
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