The United States of America is the only High Income country, as stated by the World Bank, that does not require employers to offer paid medical leave. The Family Medical Leave Act simply requires that employers provide up to 12 weeks of UNPAID leave. The vast majority of individuals in the rest of the world recieve leave for at least 6 months with some percentage of wages paid (UK offers 90% for 39 weeks). The State of Illinois has the option to offer additional cash benefits to people who are out for medical leave. They currently only offer this to individuals who are employed in public sector. This petition is to support drafting of legislation to further the benefits individuals receive for medical leave.
