AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives voted in support of a measure Wednesday sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, that would protect an employee's right to paid time off.
LD 1338 prohibits an employer from discriminating or retaliating against an employee who exercises their right to receive paid time off under Maine's employment law. Current Maine law protects an individual who reports their employer for refusing to provide such rights as paid leave, but there is no protection if the employer provides the right but then reduces the employee's hours or terminates the individual.
Retaliation and the fear of being retaliated against affects workers in a range of industries, and it disproportionately affects low-wage workers, immigrant workers and in work done by women. In 2019, a survey found that 30% of Maine workers in the private sector did not use paid leave for fear of retaliation or their employer made it too difficult to use their paid leave.
"This bill safeguards workers both financially and physically and will show hard-working Mainers that we value their contributions to our economy and will honor the rights we have put in place to protect them," said Millett.
The legislation also protects an employee's ability to share information about workplace rights with their colleagues without facing retaliation, and as amended, the bill requires an examination of the enforcement of other labor laws to be presented to the Labor and Housing Committee.
Millett is serving her first term in the Maine House and represents District 30, part of Cape Elizabeth. She sits on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. Prior to representing House District 30, Millett served eight years in the State Senate, representing District 29, which includes South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Millett], c. 812-1111