Georgia small businesses support a state-run paid family and medical leave program

In Georgia, more than 1.2 million small businesses like mine operate and hire nearly half of the state’s total workforce. As employers, we want to offer robust benefits like paid and family leave because it helps us compete with bigger businesses for talent. But this benefit carries a high cost that we simply can’t afford while maintaining our bottom lines. Workforce shortages are preventing our ability to get back to work and operate at full capacity, which is why we need support from state legislators like you to help level the playing field. 

A paid family and medical leave program in Georgia would allow us and our employees to contribute to an insurance pool that would help provide access to paid leave when employees need time to care for their families. At the same time, it would help us compete with larger employers that can afford to offer paid family and medical leave on their own. What’s more, these programs find strong support among the small business community. Small Business Majority’s research found a majority of small business owners (73%) support key investments in paid family and medical leave, which will help them in retaining and supporting their workforce.

This is why it’s important for Georgia legislators to consider passing a state paid family and medical leave program this legislative session. We need the support of state lawmakers like you to give Georgia small employers and employees access to benefits that will help us compete in the marketplace. We urge you to move forward and pass a paid family and medical leave program in 2025.