In a discussion with White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said cities must take the lead on providing paid sick and family leave to workers.
“My message to mayors across the United States of America is, if you want to be an exemplar, this is a space you have to be in,” Reed said. “I also have a fundamental belief that this is going to be the century of women. And if you want the United States to be as great as it can be, you have to welcome women to be 100 percent full partners.”
Jarrett, a top aide to President Barack Obama, is wrapping up a nationwide tour to encourage governments and businesses to give working families more flexibility. Though Obama expanded paid leave for federal employees by executive order, efforts to mandate paid sick and family leave on a national level have stalled in Congress.
Speaking to a crowd of roughly 250 people, including several local and state officials, Jarrett commended Reed and the Atlanta City Council for recently approving plans to provide six weeks of paid leave to primary caregivers. The benefit is separate from the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides for 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave due to a new child, sick family member or serious illness.
“They recognize if we want to compete in this 21st Century, our workplaces have to reflect both the values and priorities of our workers,” Jarrett said. “Coming here today sends a signal all across the country about how important it is to provide paid leave to our workers.”
The mayor, who regularly aligns himself with White House initiatives, said more local officials should stand with Obama in the face of federal gridlock.
“There has to be a cadre of individuals that can be for the president, so when he has an initiative like making families stronger … you don’t have to wait for Congress,” Reed said.
The Republican-controlled Congress has yet to support a bill that requires paid sick leave, pushing instead a more business-friendly measure to allow employees to use built-up overtime hours. Pro-business lobbying groups also have cited concerns that paid leave is unaffordable for most small businesses.
Atlanta leaders voted to provide six weeks of paid leave for a primary caregiver and two weeks of paid leave for a non-primary caregiver. The program is expected to cost the city $1.4 million annually and will be re-evaluated next year to determine whether it can be expanded, Reed said.
The mayor said it’s the latest step in addressing the needs of working families and noted the city is currently studying salaries at City Hall in hopes of eliminating any wage inequities. He laid out plans to eventually study the feasibility of providing affordable childcare to city workers.
The mayor said he plans to speak with other U.S. mayors in an effort to make paid leave the norm, and said he believes Atlanta can influence other governments, as well as the private sector.
“I think that all of the women leaders, but also the men, can start this conversation and ask the question: Do we have this? And if we don’t, why not?” Reed said. “To the extent that you go out and ask the question and push it and cite Atlanta as an example, I think that will be a force multiplier.”
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