Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called on Michigan lawmakers Wednesday to give all workers in the state “breathing room” by creating a new program to offer them paid family and medical leave, a proposal that some worry could amount to a tax on Michigan’s businesses and workers.
Whitmer, a Democrat who is increasingly gaining national political attention, made guaranteed paid time off for workers after the birth of a child or for health reasons a key policy priority in a speech about her legislative goals for the remainder of 2023.
NY did a pretty good job with theirs, it’s a separate but income-based tax. Everyone pays in and everyone gets it, with a cap (67% of prior income with a cap of $1100/wk) for up to 12 weeks. This ensures the payment in and utilization are both progressive. And employers can top up to 100% of income as a benefit if they so choose.