Aisha Wells and her two sons, Alex and Kyrie. Wells recalls what life was like caring for 17-year-old Alex, who suffers from epilepsy, while not having a paid family and medical leave program. (Aisha Wells/WWMT)
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan could be joining 13 other states in offering paid family and medical leave programs for eligible workers.
If signed into law, Senate Bill 332 would allow workers to take extensive periods of time off while still getting a paycheck.
Specifically, the legislation titled the Family Leave Optimal Coverage Act would provide any eligible employee up to 15 weeks of paid time off to care for family members, for use after childbirth, or even to visit an incarcerated loved one.
“It would mean that employers would put money into the pot, the employee would put money into the pot, and it would be a state-run medical leave program," Michigan Sen. Erika Geiss (D - Taylor), who introduced the bill, said during a virtual press conference on Friday.
Aisha Wells, a mother of two and one of the co-deputy directors of Detroit based non-profit Mothering Justice, knows all too well what it was like for her caring for her son, Alex, and worrying about taking time off work.
She described it as agonizing and heartbreaking.
"I remember taking out the calendar and counting the weeks before I could go back to work, because I was that broke," Wells said.
Missing out on wages which otherwise could have gone towards groceries or medical bills, Wells did not have access to paid time off while being a primary caretaker for her son who suffers from epilepsy, amongst other disabilities.
"Not having that when my son was having seizures, we were in the hospital so much that the nurses knew us," Wells said.
That’s why she joined Mothering Justice - a group providing advocacy resources for moms and caregivers like herself.
"My hope is that all working people, not just in Michigan, but around the country, can have paid family and medical leave," Wells said.
Joining Mothering Justice in pushing for the MIFLOC program, Wells thinks that our nation’s culture surrounding medical and family leave has to change.
"This country, and this state, is work, work, work, work, work, work, and there is no consideration for families or loved ones," Wells said.
Jared Make, from A Better Balance, said that data from a recent study showed that Michigan can afford to pass FLOC for employees.
"With the data from this actuarial study and its' cost data to guide the state, now is the time to move floc forward," Make said. "Millions of workers across michigan lack access to job protected, paid family and medical leave when a new child arrives, or a serious illness strikes. With low wage workers and workers of color are less likely to access time off to care for themselves and their loved ones. Floc provides an affordable, proven solution at a cost of only a few dollars a week for the average worker."
Wells, and all of Mothering Justice, is calling on Governor Whitmer to take action by passing this program.
"They say, 'We care about families!' Prove it," Wells said. "Pass family and medical leave and show us that you care about families!"
As of Friday, Senate Bill 332 has been referred to the Committee on Housing and Human Services, according to the Michigan Legislature.
More information on the Family Leave Optimal Coverage Act can be found online.