Be Pro-Family, Lose Your Job : Bush should sign sensible family-leave bill

George Bush may be setting a new and inappropriate standard for domestic legislation: Only when his back is to the wall and Congress has made a credible threat to override his veto does the President seem willing to entertain a legislative compromise. In recent months, several wise bills that have captured clear majorities in both houses have been threatened with death-by-veto. The Family and Medical Leave Act, which the House passed last week by an overwhelming but not veto-proof margin, should not fall victim to this same shortsighted and devisive White House strategy.

The family-leave bill would guarantee about half the nation’s employees unpaid leave of up to 12 weeks for family emergencies. Men or women could take leave for their own illness or that of an immediate family member or because of the adoption or birth of a child. The bill, which applies to firms with more than 50 employees, would also guarantee the worker a job upon his return. The Senate passed a similar version of the House bill last month with a near two-thirds majority.

Despite the widespread support for family leave, Bush threatens to veto this bill, as he did similar legislation last year. He and many business people argue that family leave will cost too much and make us uncompetitive in the world market. But these arguments don’t stand up to scrutiny.

At least 10 states, including California, have a parental-leave policy (other than maternity leave). A recent study of family leave in four states found that the vast majority of employers incurred minimal costs in complying with the laws. Another study, done for the Small Business Administration, found that granting unpaid leave can be cheaper than replacing workers who are terminated or resign.

Business leaders in other countries already understand this. Our strongest trading partners, including Germany and Japan, guarantee employees parental leaves far more generous than that proposed here. And last week, the 12 European Community nations agreed to guarantee women employees 14 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Opponents of the bill argue that business should be free to make private leave arrangements with employees when the need arises. Some companies are leaders in this area but too many are not.

Only about one in seven employers has such voluntary, company-wide policies, a figure which might explain why new mothers who individually negotiate time off to have a baby are 10 times more likely to lose their jobs than employees taking other kinds of medical leave.

Bush should sign this bill; his intransigent strategy does not become him, as a President or a parent.