COMMITEEE SPOTLIGHT: Employer Advocacy

BY TYLER MICIK

Members of the State Chamber’s Employer Advocacy Committee met in late January for their first meeting of the year. The committee was joined by Secretary of Labor Karryl Hubbard, who gave an update on the Department of Labor (DOL), sharing their policy priorities and current projects. Late last year, the DOL composed a list of five goals or pillars known as the Department of Labor Framework for the Future:

1. Ensuring equity and opportunity for all

2. Fostering safe jobs and fair workplaces

3. Publishing statistics and analysis for internal use and stakeholders

4. Marketing and branding of services

5. Continued pandemic recovery

The committee was also joined by the Department’s Barry Butler and Thomas “Chip” Riddleberger who highlighted the Delaware JobLink, one resource offered by the DOL. Delaware JobLink is a self-service tool for employers to post job openings and find and hire candidates.

“Currently there are around 19,000 active jobs posted on Delaware JobLink for candidates to research and apply to and about 9,000 resumes for employers to find candidates,” said Butler. Additionally, last year, the DOL hosted and assisted with over 35 job fairs throughout the state. Services like Delaware JobLink play an important role in connecting employers with job seekers at a time when employers are struggling to fill open positions. To find out more about Delaware JobLink, visit joblink.delaware.gov.

Committee members also reviewed several important policy issues, including paid family and medical leave and recreational marijuana legalization. First, SS 1 for SB 1—or the Healthy Delaware Families Act—creates a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program. This latest version has undergone substantial revisions from the original bill that was introduced last year. Employers with 25 or more employees are required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave and up to 6 weeks paid medical and family caregiving leave. Employers with 10 or more employees but less than 25 are only required to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Under current law, small businesses, those with 50 or fewer employees, are exempt from the 1993 Federal FMLA law. Second, HB 305—the Delaware Marijuana Control Act—would allow adults over the age of 21 to legally possess and consume under one ounce of marijuana for personal use. It does not permit individuals to grow their own marijuana.

Participants on our policy committees are instrumental in helping the State Chamber review bills, develop feedback, and recommend amendments. Consider joining the conversation and help shape policy in the First State by joining a committee. Contact Tyler at tmicik@dscc.com to learn more.