Bills reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) on Thursday would encourage equal pay through transparency and would incentivize businesses to offer paid family leave through a tax credit.
The Workplace Advancement Act, which Fischer reintroduced with U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would prevent retribution against employees who seek or share wage information in an effort to empower individuals to negotiate fairer salaries.
“For nearly four years in the Senate, I have led conversations on equal pay and paid leave,” Fischer said. “I’m reintroducing these proposals (on Thursday) to empower Americans to effectively negotiate wages and provide flexibility for the many families juggling responsibilities at home and at work.”
The bipartisan Strong Families Act, which Fischer reintroduced with U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-ME), would establish a tax credit to incentivize employers to offer at least two weeks of paid family leave per year.
Under the bill, family leave would be categorized differently than sick and vacation time, and employees could take family leave on an hourly basis. Employers would be granted a tax credit amounting to 25 percent of what employees on family leave are paid.
“These ideas have bipartisan support in Congress,” Fischer said. “The White House has expressed strong interest in making progress on them. Let’s seize this opportunity and make a difference for families across this country.”