Led by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), a
nine-member coalition of the Massachusetts business community,
along with employee and low-income advocacy groups, just requested
a three-month delay to the start of contributions to the
Commonwealth's nascent
paid family and medical leave program.
In their May 20 letter to Governor Baker and the leaders of
both chambers of the legislature, the coalition sought the delay in
order to ensure the successful rollout of the program, clarify
employee and employer confusion, and to permit additional time for
the legislature to consider five amendments to the statute to align
the state program with the federal FMLA.
As AIM noted, "The call for a delay from politically
diverse groups reflects growing concern that neither the
marketplace nor employers nor their workers are adequately prepared
for the sweeping new benefits program."
