New York State has given employees paid family leave, but this is paid for by the same employees while they are working.

It would have been a mistake to make employers pay for this leave for their employees. That would have discouraged hiring workers.

But it is also a mistake to make the employees pay. That turns it into a forced savings plan that will be useless to those that don't have children and don't take time off work to care for parents.

The right way to fund such programs is by taxing the rich, and companies in ways that have nothing to do with how many people they employ.