President Biden has recently unveiled his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025. Within that proposed budget is a proposal for a National Paid Family and Medical Leave. The proposed Family and Medical Leave would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the following circumstances:

- Care for and bonding with a new child; 
- Care for a seriously ill loved one;
- Healing from their own serious illness; 
- Addressing circumstances arising from a loved one’s military deployment; and
- Finding safety from domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking (“safe leave”).

The proposal further desires to implement a three day Bereavement Leave period, where individuals may take time off of work to mourn the death of a loved one. 

Paid Family and Medical Leave as well as Paid Sick Leave have been a very popular source of legislation since COVID-19 forced many individuals to leave their workplace. The resulting years have created something of a patchwork of Paid and Unpaid Leaves across the country, with no real congruence. As workplaces become increasingly remote, it can be very confusing for employers to determine which state’s leave policies apply to out-of-state employees. A national policy would help alleviate those administrative concerns.

It is important to note that this is merely a proposal and must pass through a bitterly divided Congress to become law. As a result, there may not be much movement on this proposal for the foreseeable future. FNA Insurance Services, Inc. will update this article when significant changes are made.