N.J. May OK Paid Leave For Family Care

Journalist:  CBS News
Date:  April 7, 2008
Summary:   New Jersey may become the third state to require companies to offer six weeks of paid leave to those workers wishing to care for their newborn child or a sick relative.  The plan is opposed by Republican and business groups.  If it passes, New Jersey would join California and Washington state in this new measure.  However, Washington state is not sure when the program would start because they haven’t decided how to pay for it.  About 38,000 workers annually in New Jersey would take paid leave.
Relevance:     family medical leave act in the U.S.
Questions:
1.  Do you believe that the U.S. supports families sufficiently in this country?  What are your thoughts about the current policy of up to twelve weeks off of unpaid leave?
2.  Why do you think that so few states offer any paid leave for the care of a newborn?  What are the drawbacks for the employer and why are they so resistant to this?
Here is a link to the article.