New paid family leave in RI

[LoveTrains]

Interesting, I just read in the Providence Journal that our governor signed a bill last week that will expand the states TDI program (temporary disability insurance). This is a state sponsored short term disability program that everyone pays for with payroll taxes in the state. It currently pays out 6 weeks for a vaginal birth or 8 weeks for a c- section, or any other kind of short term disability that one might have.

I just read that it was been expanded to now cover 4 weeks of leave to care for an ill family member, including spouse, child, grandparent, or parent or to bond with a new child. I would assume (but don't know for sure) that it would include paternity and adoptive parent leave, too, since a new birth mom already gets 6 or 8 weeks for giving birth. 

It will be paid for by increased payroll taxes. 

ETA: What do you think of a government program like this? Is this something that other states should be looking into? I ask because H and I disagree over it. 

[savan]

California already has this. I used it when I had DD and appreciated the extra 6 weeks of pay. I don't mind it. Everyone who pays in can use it and the payout is income based. It's such a tiny tax compared to all the others I am paying.

[LoveTrains]

Jul 14, 2013 10:56:57 GMT -5 savan said:

California already has this. I used it when I had DD and appreciated the extra 6 weeks of pay. I don't mind it. Everyone who pays in can use it and the payout is income based. It's such a tiny tax compared to all the others I am paying.

We already have where you get paid 6 weeks for a vaginal birth. The new part is family leave to care for an ill family member.

[Deleted]

I'm a huge fan of programs like this. The STD is nice but I like that this could be used for adoptive parents or new fathers as well.

Of course my state has nothing so it all sounds good to me.

[pescalita]

Jul 14, 2013 11:03:08 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jul 14, 2013 10:56:57 GMT -5 savan said:

California already has this. I used it when I had DD and appreciated the extra 6 weeks of pay. I don't mind it. Everyone who pays in can use it and the payout is income based. It's such a tiny tax compared to all the others I am paying.

We already have where you get paid 6 weeks for a vaginal birth. The new part is family leave to care for an ill family member.

Same in CA. It's an additional 6 wks beyond STD for mothers. MrP is using 3wks.

[savan]

Jul 14, 2013 12:03:02 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Jul 14, 2013 11:03:08 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

We already have where you get paid 6 weeks for a vaginal birth. The new part is family leave to care for an ill family member.

Same in CA. It's an additional 6 wks beyond STD for mothers. MrP is using 3wks.

Yes, I got a total of 12 weeks paid.  

[LoveTrains]

Oh sorry I didn't understand. I'm not sure that it will work that you would get a total of 10 weeks in RI. I will have to read more about it.

[ringstrue]

I think NJ has something like this too?