Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has donated $25 Starbucks gift cards to the staff of PL+US (Paid Leave US), who are taking on the task of fighting for paid leave for US workers.
Markle, known worldwide for her generous donations Trusted Source Meghan Markle's donation a 'lifesaver' for community kitchen users A donation made by the Duchess of Sussex has been a “lifesaver” for users of a community kitchen in Nottingham, the charity has said. www.bbc.com , is a staunch advocate of paid leave for all workers in the United States. It was revealed that the former “Suits” star and her royal husband, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, gifted coffee to PL+US staff workers through the Archwell Foundation.
The royal couple established the Archewell Foundation in early 2020 Trusted Source Archewell: Harry and Meghan to launch charitable organization - CNN The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed plans to launch a charitable organization called Archewell. edition.cnn.com , following their decision to step down as members of the royal family. PL+US is dedicated to fighting for paid sick and family leave for all American workers by the end of 2022.
Neil Sroka, the communications director for PL+US, revealed donation by posting a tweet with a screenshot of the digital gift card donated by the foundation, along with a thank you message to Meghan.
The tweet reads: “The Duchess of Sussex (aka #MeghanMarkle) bought everyone at @PaidLeaveUS a few cups of coffee while we’re working overtime to #SavePaidLeave. Unbelievably classy … and necessary. Truly honored to know she has our backs in the fight to win #PaidLeaveForAll (sic)”.
The vouchers by the foundation also came with a message that reads: “Hi there, Just a little something to keep you going. Thank you for all that you do. From: Archewell.”
Meghan’s dedication to the cause was highlighted in her open letter to Congress earlier in the year. In the letter, she called for paid leave for all American workers as she highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic has displayed the “long-existing fault lines in our communities.”
The letter also stated that the mother of two children, Lilibet, 2, and Archie, 4, is not an elected official. Instead, she states that she is an engaged citizen and parent. Her letter contained the statement, “And because you and your congressional colleagues have a role in shaping family outcomes for generations to come, that’s why I’m writing to you at this deeply important time—as a mom—to advocate for paid leave”.
The letter also highlighted how much the workforce has changed because of the pandemic. She emphasized that many working mothers had to leave their job as daycares and schools all across the world closed. The latest studies show that in September of 2021, over 300,000 women left the workforce Trusted Source More than 300,000 women left the labor force in September September marked another month of slow job growth, with the economy adding just 194,000 positions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. www.cnbc.com .
The letter exposed and reiterated many of the problems people are going through due to the pandemic. The closure of schools, daycares, and the greater need to stay at home to care for loved ones has left many mothers and parents facing a choice of whether to go to work or stay at home without getting paid. In Meghan’s letter, she states that these sacrifices that parents all over the world make come with great costs, which is why she advocates for paid sick and parental leave.
In the United States, there are no current legal requirements for sick leave Trusted Source Sick Leave | U.S. Department of Labor Currently, there are no federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. For companies subject to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Act does require unpaid sick leave. www.dol.gov . Additionally, there are also no federal requirements for family or maternal leave as well. However, there is currently legislation moving through Congress that could potentially bring all American workers at least 12 weeks of paid leave Trusted Source Zoom In Icon Legislation moving through Congress would make 12 weeks of paid family and sick leave available to most workers, and remove the U.S. from the small list of countries that are currently without such a policy. www.cnbc.com . There are other details and parameters in this legislation that may change as it goes through debates, so there is no clear idea what that paid leave may look like if it gets passed.
The PL+US is a non-profit organization dedicated to passing legislation that will give workers paid leave. Their staff is fully committed to the cause of getting paid family and sick leave for American workers by the end of 2022. The United States is currently the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t require companies to provide paid leave for their employees. The staff of the organization reportedly works around the clock trying to move their cause forward and bring them closer to their goal.
