Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today issued the following statement on the twentieth anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act:
“For twenty years, this historic law has helped individuals balance their family and work obligations. As a husband and a father, I believe that Coloradans and all Americans shouldn’t have to choose between caring for their family as they see fit or keeping their jobs. FMLA has helped level the playing field to protect both women and men whether that be for the birth of a child, to care for a sick family member or to fight for one’s own life.
“Despite the vast improvements since the enactment of the FMLA, our country still has a ways to go. Most part-time workers and nearly half of full-time workers are not eligible for leave under FMLA. And millions of employees who are eligible cannot afford to take unpaid leave. This law must not be considered an end, but instead a first step in the right direction. But it is a worthwhile start that should be celebrated as we look for ways to strengthen this important law.”