HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawai‘i is a place where community and family are deeply valued; but when it comes to paid family and medical leave, it’s a system that has largely been overlooked.
While most other developed nations offer some form of paid family leave, the United States, and Hawai‘i specifically, are behind the curve.
That’s why Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network (HCAN) has been pushing for a change. The organization is working hard to develop a plan to implement paid family and medical leave in Hawai‘i; and in order for it to happen, there’s critical legislation that must be passed.
A decade in the making
The push for paid family and medical leave has been in the works for over a decade, as Deborah Zysman, the executive director of Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network (HCAN), explained.
“This is a concept that we’ve been working on for well over a decade and has been talked about in our state for a lot longer than that,” Zysman said.
She’s been at the forefront of this fight for the past 12 years, advocating for workers who need time off for caregiving, whether it’s for a new baby, an ill family member or even for personal medical needs.
The goal is simple: to create a safety net for workers who need time off without the fear of losing their income.
Zysman made it clear that the need for paid leave goes beyond just maternity leave.
“It can be for the birth or adoption of a new baby, and that’s for maternity or paternity leave. And then also, caregiving for a family member,” she explained. “So your parents, your spouse—not just a new baby, but any kind of short-term caregiving, even time away from work for your own health reasons.”
In essence, the program would merge into a more comprehensive structure that includes the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) program, which currently only covers workers who need time off due to their own medical conditions.
Zysman is clear that this is about providing financial stability during those periods when people are forced to step away from work to care for themselves or their loved ones.
“The idea is to allow time for caregiving and healing, whether it’s for you or a family member, when you need a short time away from work,” she explained. “But so that you can have a safety net to make sure you can keep paying your rent, put food on your table and then be able to return to work when you’re well, when your family member is well.”
Who would benefit?
One of the most important aspects of this legislation is its potential to impact nearly every worker in Hawai‘i. Zysman pointed out that while some workers may already have access to some form of family or medical leave, the system is fragmented.
Some employers offer it; but it’s typically part of a benefits package that’s available to higher-paid, white-collar workers. Meanwhile, many hourly workers don’t receive such benefits.
“It’s really varied. And, so, what we’re talking about is having kind of a floor, a minimum amount for all workers,” Zysman explained. “regardless of the size of the workplace. And then if you have a really generous employer, they can go above and beyond.”
Hawai‘i’s system would provide coverage to a wide swath of workers, including those who currently don’t have access to paid leave. And Zysman is quick to note that, even if someone isn’t planning on having a child or has already had theirs, the program is for everyone.
“It’s really for all workers,” she said. “I think sometimes the confusion is, ‘Oh, this is just for moms with a new baby,’ and that is a piece of it. But it’s actually more robust and holistic than that.”
The legislation would cover a range of caregiving needs, including caring for aging parents or spouses who fall ill. With Hawai‘i’s growing elderly population, the need for this type of coverage is more urgent than ever. Zysman explained, “In Hawai‘i, we think that more folks will be taking for those other kinds of caretaking leave, just statistically, with like our growing elderly population.”
A sustainable funding model
Hawai‘i’s proposed paid family and medical leave would be funded through a payroll deduction system. Both employees and employers would contribute, and it would be similar to how unemployment insurance is paid.
“What we proposed is that employees and employers split it. So, for the average worker in Hawai‘i, the worker would pay in approximately $200 a year while the employer also would pay in approximately $200 a year,” Zysman explained.
That adds up to around $400 a year in total contributions. The benefits provided would be partial pay and designed not to fully replace lost wages but to offer enough financial assistance to prevent people from going into debt while they take leave.
For new parents, the program would offer up to 12 weeks of leave. For those caring for a sick family member or dealing with their own medical issues, the program would cover up to 26 weeks.
Zysman stressed that low-wage workers would receive a higher percentage of their wages during their leave. For those with higher wages, the percentage would be lower, in line with a more sustainable approach.
Zysman’s emphasis on the need for such a system is rooted in the real-world struggles of Hawai‘i workers.
“We know anecdotally that frequently people will take these leaves if they’re able, and what they have to do now is max out their credit cards, borrow money from friends and family because they’re not working,” she said. “They’re doing caregiving. And, you know, they can get themselves really into financial trouble.”
This model, Zysman explained, is meant to ensure that workers don’t face financial ruin while they care for a loved one or recover from an illness.
Support for employers
Another concern often raised is how paid leave will impact employers. Zysman believes that while employers may worry about the financial burden, the system would actually save them money.
“The nice thing for employers, though, is while my employee is out doing the caretaking they need to do, I’m not paying their paycheck at that time,” she explained. “They’re getting paid out of this fund. So, I can then use my cost savings to hire a temp, you know, to contract with someone.”
The idea is that employers can still keep their business running while supporting their employees through difficult times. This system ensures that businesses aren’t left in the lurch while workers are on leave.
The road ahead
As for what’s next, HCAN and its allies are moving forward with introducing legislation in both the House and Senate. Zysman is optimistic about the plan, thanks to lessons learned from other states that have already implemented similar programs.
“The nice thing also is we’ve been able to learn from the 14 other states that have done this ahead of us,” she said. “They’ve worked out the kinks. So, we’ve really been able to learn from others across the nation how it works well and things to avoid.”
Over the next few months, the bill will go through a series of committee hearings where lawmakers will weigh the pros and cons of the legislation. Zysman encourages the public to get involved and advocate for the policy.
“We really would love to hear from the community to come forward and testify,” she said. “Call your lawmaker, advocate, to say why you need this, why this policy would be beneficial to you and your family.”
To help organize support, HCAN has created a website where people can learn more about the issue and sign up for action alerts. Zysman urged Hawai‘i residents to make their voices heard.
“Now is the time to show up or make a call,” she said.
For Zysman and HCAN, the journey toward paid family and medical leave is a deeply personal one. It’s about making sure that everyone in Hawai‘i, regardless of their job or income, can take care of their health and their family without worrying about how to pay the bills.
It’s about ensuring that Hawai‘i’s workers have the support they need when they need it most.
You can click here to learn more about HCAN.
In a place where ‘ohana and community are everything, it’s time for the laws to reflect that same level of care and concern.