San Francisco approves fully paid leave for new parents

Mandatory leave seems like a reasonable idea (you only have one bonding period, children are important).

Paid leave seems a bit.. hackish, though.

If I don't turn up for work, for whatever reason, I think any money given to me by my employer should be considered a gift. I haven't rendered services, why would I expect payment? It's a kind gesture and I'd expect anyone interested in retention / morale to do so, but coercion?

It seems more like a budgeting issue or an indication that salaries are too low to me.

Then again, I find it difficult to conceive of putting myself in a situation in which I couldn't survive for a few months without pay. Living under a bridge is more fun than making a 5% return on employment.

Basically, it's all very nice, and is better than nothing, but why are people so insecure to begin with? Can we fix that?

Why can't paid family leave be provided by the government and funded through taxes?

It serves a public good and is too burdensome for small businesses so shouldn't it be something that's paid for collectively?

Yet another reason not to start your company in SF.