AARP Eye Center
Thank you for joining us at Lobby Day. Help us amplify awareness of Paid Family and Medical Leave by taking these three actions today:
#1
MESSAGE YOUR LAWMAKER
Send an electronic message to your lawmaker and ask them to support Paid Family & Medical Leave.
#2
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow AARP and like, comment and share posts throughout the day. Don't forget to use the following hashtags on Twitter: #PaidLeaveMN #mnleg
/aarpMN
/aarpMN
/aarp
SAMPLE POSTS (or like/share from AARP Minnesota's accounts):
- I am at the @mncapitol with @AARPMN. Staying home when you or a loved one is sick with a serious health condition shouldn't mean losing your pay, or even your job. Tell your lawmaker to pass #PaidLeaveMN: https://action.aarp.org/secure/will-minnesota-lawmakers-stand-family-caregivers-6 #mnleg
- All Minnesotans deserve a Robust #PaidLeaveMN policy that
✅ Allows up to 12 weeks Medical Care
✅ Allows up to 12 weeks Family Care
✅ Has Everyone Contribute, Everyone Benefits
✅ Starts ASAP since MN been waiting a decade! #mnleg - Across MN, 530K family caregivers help their older parents, spouses, & other loved ones live independently at home, most while juggling a FT or PT job. It's time for MN to give them the support they need. Tell your lawmaker to pass #PaidLeaveMN: https://action.aarp.org/secure/will-minnesota-lawmakers-stand-family-caregivers-6 #mnleg
- I am proud to stand with @aarpmn and the @mn4pfl partners in supporting Paid Family & Medical Leave that will help Minnesotans take care of themselves, their health and their families. Tell #mnleg that NOW is the time to pass our #PaidLeaveMN policy: https://action.aarp.org/secure/will-minnesota-lawmakers-stand-family-caregivers-6
#3
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The Letter to the Editor section of newspapers are ideal for getting your message to a wide audience. Letters to the editor in local and regional papers are read by elected and appointed officials, community members and activists.
- Find your local newspaper. Search for your local newspaper by city. If your city does not have a local newspaper, consider submitting to a neighboring city.
- Visit the newspaper website to find out how to submit your letter (typically this information can be found under the "Contact Us" section of a website).
- Write your letter to the editor. Use this template letter to the editor to help you write your letter (template also below)
PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE
TEMPLATE BULLET POINTS
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Use the bullet points below to assist you in writing a letter to the editor. You can use these tips to help guide you (note: most publications ask for submitted letters to the editor to be less than 200 words).
____________________________________________________________________________
[Signed by NAME, AARP Minnesota Volunteer, CITY]
TEMPLATE BULLET POINTS
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Use the bullet points below to assist you in writing a letter to the editor. You can use these tips to help guide you (note: most publications ask for submitted letters to the editor to be less than 200 words).
____________________________________________________________________________
- In Minnesota, more than 530,000 unpaid family caregivers provide critical assistance to help their older parents, spouses and other loved ones live independently in their homes; many do so while also juggling full or part-time jobs.
- [personal experience about caregiving or the importance of PFML to you]
- Caring for mom, dad or a spouse can be expensive, isolating, and stressful enough without the fear of losing your paycheck—or job.
- I joined AARP Minnesota at the Capitol on March 21 to call AARP on lawmakers to pass a Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a seriously ill family member or a worker’s own serious health condition.
- The Paid Family and Medical Leave (HF2 Richardson; SF2 Mann) is commonsense legislation that would allow caregivers to take limited time off from their jobs without fear of losing their paychecks.
- Unfortunately, working family caregivers often risk their own financial security to provide care for their loved ones.
- Caregiving demands may lead to effects felt across years or a lifetime due to lost jobs, missed raises, and reduced Social Security benefits.
- Only 13 percent of workers have access to paid family and medical leave through their employers, allowing them to take time off to care for a loved one.
- Family caregivers save the state and taxpayers money by keeping their loved ones out of taxpayer-funded nursing homes.
- Unpaid family caregivers contribute more than 500 million hours of unpaid care each year, valued at approximately $10 billion dollars in Minnesota.
- They help their older loved ones with medications and medical care, bathing and dressing, meals, chores, and much more.
- Not only do paid family and medical leave programs give workers a measure of economic security, but they are also shown to improve health and benefit businesses by reducing turnover, boosting productivity, and enhancing morale.
- Lawmakers can support family caregivers by passing a paid family and medical leave insurance program allowing Minnesotans to work and care for themselves and their families. The time for action is now.
[Signed by NAME, AARP Minnesota Volunteer, CITY]
Contact AARP Minnesota
Contact information and more from your state office. Learn what we are doing to champion social change and help you live your best life.