Biden, Cuomo Make Emotional Call For More Paid Family Leave
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Vice President Joseph Biden is joining Gov. Andrew Cuomo's call for an expansion of paid family leave in New York state.
Biden and Cuomo, both Democrats, appeared together at a rally at the McBurney YMCA, 125 W. 14th St., on Friday.
Cuomo's proposal would force employers to deduct up to 60 cents per week so employees could take up to 12 weeks off and get 35 percent of their usual paycheck, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports.
"There are times in life when you should be with family members. Because that's what it is all about at the end of the day," Cuomo said.
The leave could be used for childbirth, adoption or to care for a sick or dying relative.
"I know the feeling-- I went through it last year with my father. We knew he had weeks, he had months, at most," Cuomo said.
Both men spoke emotionally about being there for a dying loved one. Cuomo's father and Biden's son died last year.
Biden said the vast majority of humanity understands it's not worth much if you can't be there for those you love when they need you the most. He bemoaned the difficult decision workers must make to go to work in order to keep their job instead of staying home to care for the sick.
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