San Francisco poised to vote on full paid leave for parents

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is voting on whether to require six weeks of fully paid leave for new parents — a move that would be a first for any jurisdiction.

The state already allows workers to receive 55 percent of their pay for up to six weeks to bond with a new child. The money comes out of a state insurance program funded by workers.

The proposal to be voted on Tuesday would require San Francisco employers with at least 20 employees to make up the rest.

Advocates say legislation is needed because too many workers can't afford to take leave. But small businesses say the proposal is just another mandate in a long list of city mandates that unfairly burdens independent operators.