ON
ON THE
ON THE REAL STORY. WELL, COME JANUARY YOU MAY SEE
A CHANGE IN YOUR PAYCHECK A
POINT FIVE PERCENT MANDATORY
EMPLOYEE PAYROLL TAX YOU'RE
PAYING FOR IT AND EMPLOYERS
YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF WITHHOLDING
IT.
IT.
IT. IT'S
IT. IT'S BECAUSE
IT'S BECAUSE THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM.
WHAT IS IT?
HOW CAN YOU ACCESS IS THE
PROGRAM?
PROGRAM?
PROGRAM? WHAT ARE THE BUSINESSES DOING?
WE GO TO THE CONNECTICUT PAID
LEAVE AUTHORITY.
LEAVE AUTHORITY. SHE'S HEADING THE ORGANIZATION
IN CHARGE OF IT ALL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS
MORNING.
MORNING.
MORNING. > THAN FOR HAVING ME,
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> LETH START WITH THE
BASICS HERE.
BASICS HERE. THIS IMPACTS ALL PEOPLE WORKING
IN CONNECTICUT FOR THE MOST PART
WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT IF Y WORK
FOR ONE OR MORE EMPLOYEES,
YOU'RE EXPECTED BY THIS PROGRAM.
THERE'S EXCEPTIONS, IF YOU WORK
FOR A MUNICIPALITY OR A BOARD OF
EDUCATION, THEN -- AND YOU'RE
PART OF UNION, YOU COULD VOTE TO
BE IN IT AND YOUR WORKPLACE IS
IN.
IN.
IN. STATE
IN. STATE EMPLOYEES ARE IN THE IN A
UNION ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING BUT
THE -- THE ONLY REAL EXCEPTION
IS FOR SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS THAT ARE PRIVATE.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. >> THE LEGISLATURE AND
GOVERNOR SIGNED THIS INTO HAW.
THE LEGISLATURE PASSED IT.
WE HAVE THE WITHDRAWALS STARTING
IN JANUARY BUT THE PROGRAM IS
NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO START
UNTIL 2022.
UNTIL 2022. YOU MAY PAY IN, BUT THEY HAVE TO
RAMP UP, YOU HAVE TO RAMP UP AND
GET ENOUGH MONEY IF THE PROGRAM
TO WORK.
TO WORK.
TO WORK. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> 2021 IS THE YEAR THAT IT
GOES INTO A TRUST FUND.
THAT'S MANAGED BY THE OFFICE OF
THE CHARGERER.
THE CHARGERER. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
THAT MONEY CAN'T BE USED FOR
ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OE
ADMINISTRATION OE AND FOR BENEFITS.
IT IS NOT LIKE IT GOES INTO A
GENE ALL.
GENE ALL.
GENE ALL. THEN IN 2022, YOU APPLY FOR
THINGS HIKE BEING A BONE MARROW
DONOR AND FAMILY VIOLENCE LEAVE,
AND PREGNANCY AND CARING FOR THE
FAMILY MEMBERS BEEN INJURE IDEA
IN THE ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY OR
SEEING SOMEONE G OVERSEAS IN
THE MILITARY.
THE MILITARY. THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASON THAT
IS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ACCESS
LEAVE IN 2022 THAT PEOPLE DON'T
HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE THAT
TIME OUT.
TIME OUT.
TIME OUT. UP THAT'S A REAL CHANGE IN 2022.
>> SOMEONE MAY HAVE INCIDENT
COME UP WHERE THEY TAKE CARE OF
ELDERLY PARENT.
ELDERLY PARENT. THEY GET SICK THEMSELVES.
THE SITUATIONS YOU WERE
THEY DO THEN?
THEY WORRY ABOUT T WORK
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
MAYBE THE BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE
PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
THEY STEP IN AND SAY, TO WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WORKS TWO WAYS.
ONE IS THAT THE WAY THE LAW SITS
NOW, REQUIRES YOU TO WORK ABOUT
A YEAR, YOU WORK A HOT OF HOURS
IN ORDER FOR YOUR JOB TO BE
PROTECTED IF YOU NEED TO TAKE
TIME OFF.
TIME OFF.
TIME OFF. EVEN WHEN YOU DO, YOU CAN'T GET
PAID FOR IT UNLESS YOU HAVE
VACATION OR SICK TIME.
STARTING IN 2022, YOU'LL HAVE
PROTECTION WHEN YOU TAKE TIME
OFF FROM YOUR JOB.
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE 12 WEEKS
OFF AND GET PAID FOR THOSE 12
WEEKS.
WEEKS.
WEEKS. PARTF THE VACATION TIME AND
THEN YOU'LL BE ABLE TO COME TO
THE AUTHORITY AND GET PAID FOR
THE REST OF THAT.
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE VACATION AND
OTHERWISE QUALIFIES, THEN YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO COME TO THE AUTHORITY
AND APPLY FOR BENEFITS.
IF YOU QUALIFY, THEN YOU GET
PAID FOR THOSE BENEFITS.
>> SOMEONE WORKS FOR A
COMPANY, SAY AND THEY GET
BENEFITS ALREADY.
BENEFITS ALREADY. CAN THEY DO BOTH BENEFITS?
THEY HAVE COORDINATION.
THEY HAVE A FORM OF SICK LEAVE
AND WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYONE TO
SACRIFICE THOSE BENEFITS.
YOU COULD DO THAT TI W THEM.
THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT
COVERS A MUCH BROADER CATEGORY
OF EMPLOYEES.
OF EMPLOYEES. YOU HAVE TO WORK 12 WEEKS BEFORE
YOU CAN ACCESS THE BENEFITS.
IF YOU HAVE DONE THAT, YOU GET
PAID FOR THAT TIME.
IF YOU WORKED FOR YOUR EMPLOYER
FOR THREE MONTHS THEN YOUR JOB
IS PROTECTED WHEN YOU COME BACK.
THERE'S EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T
HAVE THAT PROTECTION NOW,
JUSTICE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF
THE EMPLOYER.
THE EMPLOYER. THE LAWS HAD CURRENTLY APPLIED
TO EMPLOYEES THAT WERE 15 PEOPLE
OR MORE OR 75 OR MORE.
THAT WILL IN LONGER BE THE CASE
IN 2022.
IN 2022.
IN 2022. IT WILL BE IF EMPLOYERS WITH ONE
OR MORE EMPLOYEES.
THE BUSINESS SIDE WELL COLLECT
THE PAYROLL TAX, CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THE EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES ARE NOT
PAYING FOR THE PROGRAM.
IT IS THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE
PAYING FOR IT.
WE SHOULD ALSO KNOW IF YOU'RE A
SOLE PROPRIETOR OR
SELF-EMPLOYED, YOU HAVE THE
OPTION OF ALSO ENROLLING IN THE
PROGRAM BUT IF YOU DO, YOU HAVE
TO STAY IN IF THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE
SELF-EMPLOYED FOR WHOM
PURCHASING THE POLICY WILL BE
UNAFFORDABLE BECAUSE THEY COULD
BE VE EXPENSIVE.
THIS WAY THEY COULD CONTRIBUTE
AND GET ACCESS IF THEY WANT TO,
THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO
PARTICIPATE
THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO WHA IF THEY'RE IN THE
PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS, IS
THERE A PENALTY?
>> NO PENALTY.
WE ASK PEOPLE TO STAY IN FOR
THREE YEARS, IF YOU LEAVE BEFORE
THAT, THERE'S NOT A PENALTY,
THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE LAW IS
WRITTEN, WE ASK FOR PEOPLE TO
REMAIN IN FOR THAT PERIOD OF
TIME SO WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE
CONSTANTLY ROLLING IN AND OUT OF
THE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM. >> IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
AS YOU SAID, IS THIS SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE HAS TO REGISTER?
>> YES.
>> YES.
>> YES. UNLESS YOU'RE IN THE CATEGORY OF
BUSINESSES THAT I OUTLINED
EARLIER THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY
EXEMPT FROM THIS, EVERY OTHER
BUSINESS DOES HAVE TO REGISTER
AND THEY DO HAVE TO WITHHOLD THE
ONE HALF OF ONE PERCENT AND GIVE
TO THE AUTHORITY, THE TRUST
FUND.
FUND.
FUND. FOR
FUND. FOR THIS MONTH, IT IS
HEADS UP TO BUSINESSES.
THIS IS A START IN JANUARY EVEN
BE AT
BE AT
BE AT THEIR PAYCHECK IN JANUARY.
IT IS REALLY THE BUSINESSES
RIGHT NOW THAT YOU TRY TO LET
THEM KNOW.
THEM KNOW. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. WE WANT THEM TO KNOW.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TAKEN BY
SURPRISE.
SURPRISE.
SURPRISE. THERE'S MANY THINGS THAT DRAW
OUR ATTENTION THIS YEAR.
MOST RECENTLY IS THE PANDEMIC WE
LIVE.
LIVE.
LIVE. THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS.
THIS IS ALSO COMING, WE WANT
PEOPLE TO BE PREPARED AND TO
KNOW SO WE COULD FUND IT THIS
YEAR AND COME 2022 WHEN THE LIFE
CHANGING EVENTS OCCUR THAT WE'RE
GOING TO RULE THE BENEFITS
AVAILABLE AND MONEY TO PAY SO
PEOPLE CAN TAKE TIME OFF AND NOT
DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO
WORK OR GET -- OR BE ABLE TO
TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE THEY LOVE
AND MOVE THAN COME AS A RESULT
OF THAT.
OF THAT.
OF THAT. >> ALL RIGHT, ANDRE' BARTON
REEVES, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING
A SXLANING THIS PROGRAM.
I WANT YOU BACK, ESPECIALLY IN
JANUARY WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
PEOPLE WILL LOOK AND SAY, WHAT?
IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT
BEFORE.
BEFORE.
BEFORE. REMIND EVERYONE AND GO THROUGH
IT AGAIN.
IT AGAIN.
IT AGAIN. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
THANKS FOR THE TIME.
>> BE WELL.
THAT DOES