Once upon a time in America, a man worked himself to the bone to keep his wife and new baby housed, fed, and out of the poorhouse, while the lady of the house saw to it that neither the child nor the furniture accumulated too much dust. But, dear reader, that was a simpler age.
The Nevada Legislature has taken it upon itself to ensure that families no longer rely on such antiquated notions as thrift, sacrifice, or good old-fashioned gumption—no, ma’am! They got a plan to expand paid family leave benefits at a rate that would make even the most indulgent grandparent blush.
Those lucky enough to be employed in Nevada’s Executive Department get eight weeks of paid leave—provided they’ve been on the job for at least a year—should they find themselves with a new child, a serious illness, or a relative needing care. But lo and behold, Assembly Bill 388 seeks to slash that waiting period from twelve months to a mere ninety days while bumping the leave to a full twelve weeks.
But why stop there? The bill also expands the acceptable reasons for paid absence to include bonding with a foster child, recuperating from unspecified “health conditions,” or dealing with the unfortunate realities of domestic strife, such as harassment or stalking.
And lest one worry about paltry pay during such an extended holiday, the bill sees to that, too. Whereas current law only provides half-wages during paid leave, the new proposal ensures that employees making up to 110 percent of the state’s average wage will now receive an entire paycheck, courtesy of their obliging employer.
Those making beyond that sum will still pocket a respectable 60 percent of their earnings, though not to exceed 150 percent of the state’s weekly wage—because even generosity has its limits, or so one is told.
The largesse does not end there.
The bill further decrees that all public and private employers with at least 50 employees must establish “reasonable procedures” for doling out these benefits. And should any tightfisted business owner balk at such mandates, fear not—the Human Resources Commission and Labor Commissioner will be standing by to ensure compliance, and those who dare defy the new order, penalties of up to $5,000 per violation are waiting in the wings.
Of course, in their magnanimity, the bill’s backers have also done away with older statutes relating to leave for domestic violence and the like, folding them neatly into this grand new framework. The bill’s supporters assure the good people of Nevada that these changes will do wonders for work-life balance and the general well-being of the state’s industrious citizens.
And who are we to argue?
No one could surely object to more paid time off—least of all those footing the bill. But one can only wonder, as the lawmakers debate, whether they’ll feel inclined to take a few weeks’ leave after such an exhausting bout of legislating.
The Old Blog in the Desert 
Leave a comment