Short-Term Disability Insurance Idea Dropped

Among the last major Bush administration initiatives for federal personnel was a proposal unveiled earlier this year to create a short-term disability insurance benefit. Officials argued that this was one of the identifiable gaps in federal benefits coverage—conditions (such as pregnancy) that do not qualify for workers’ compensation but that keep employees away from work for extended periods. The idea drew some interest, although federal unions and some in Congress pushed a plan that became an alternative, to create some paid parental leave time. The original idea was for eight weeks, but that was pared back to four weeks due to cost concerns but meanwhile sponsors dropped even language to study the short-term disability benefit idea. The paid leave bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate because of a veto threat.