Magaziner Elevates Workers Voices by Reintroducing Bill for Paid Time Off for All Americans

PROVIDENCE,  RI — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) held a press conference to announce the reintroduction of his Protected Time Off (PTO) Act, legislation to guarantee all full-time workers in the United States access to paid days off from work. 

Nearly 27 million Americans – or over one in five workers in the private sector – do not have annual paid vacation leave. During the event, Rhode Island workers, representatives from Rhode Island’s hospitality industry, and policy experts gathered to share their perspectives on the benefit of paid vacation time for Rhode Islanders and all Americans. 

“American workers are the most productive in the world, and deserve a much-needed break,” said Magaziner. “I’m glad to join Rhode Islanders to hear from them about the  importance of paid time off to improve quality of life for working people and to support the tourism and hospitality businesses that are critical to the state.. My PTO Act delivers basic fairness and dignity to workers by guaranteeing every full-time worker in this country at least two weeks of paid leave to spend time with family, handle life’s responsibilities, or simply take a well-earned vacation.”

“Every full-time worker deserves the right not to have to choose between a paycheck and a sick child or even a day off to recharge,” said Sandy Matos, K-12 Lead Food Service Worker. “One day of missed pay can affect a worker's livelihood. Every full-time worker in this country deserves the dignity of not having to make this choice.”

“It is mind-boggling to know that 27 million full-time workers have zero Paid Time Off in the United States of America,” said Nancy Iadeluca, Executive Board Member, Vice President, UniteHere Local 26. “Thank goodness for the Big Beautiful Unions, without them, that 27 million number would be much larger.”

“We are grateful for our partnership with state leaders in Rhode Island who have championed tremendous improvements to the state’s paid family leave program by increasing the number of allowable weeks of leave and the replacement of workers’ wages,” said Economic Progress Institute (EPI) Executive Director Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Esq. “With working families in Rhode Island and across the country struggling with rising costs and juggling family, work, and everything in between, we appreciate Congressman Magaziner’s active advocacy for working families and the federal Protected Time Off Act.”

American workers are the reason why the United States has the world's strongest economy, yet the U.S. is the only advanced economy that doesn’t guarantee any paid vacation for workers. By contrast, the European Union guarantees workers at least 20 paid vacation days per year, with some countries mandating as many as 25 or 30 annual days off. The distribution of paid annual leave also perpetuates existing societal inequalities. Workers of color and low wage workers are the least likely to be allowed paid time off.

Upon passage, the Protected Time Off (PTO) Act will ensure:

• Providing employees who work full time with a minimum of 80 hours (two weeks) of paid annual leave per year, usable for any reason and paid at their regular wage.
• This leave will be in addition to any paid sick leave or family and medical leave already guaranteed by law.
• Protecting Employees against discrimination for exercising their right to take annual paid time off.

Every American deserves dignity in their job and to be treated with respect. Paid annual leave for every worker is about basic fairness, and the PTO Act will move our country closer to that goal.

This bill was introduced by Magaziner and is co-lead by Reps. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), and Greg Casar (TX-35). The legislation has 42 cosponsors. 

The PTO Act is also endorsed by: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers), UNITE HERE, Center for Law and Social Policy, Economic Opportunity Institute, Economic Policy Institute, Family Values @ Work, National Employment Law Project, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center, Paid Leave for All, UnidosUS, and ZERO TO THREE.

The bill text can be found here.