Sun Life U.S. has expanded its Family Leave Insurance (FLI) offering to Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, with more states on the way. Sun Life currently offers FLI in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The fully insured offering broadens workers' access to paid leave, giving more employers the option to easily provide a valuable benefit to their employees. Sun Life has long been an advocate for paid leave, working with state programs to include a private plan option and supporting legislative proposals to expand access to the employer federal paid leave tax credit. Sun Life FLI aligns with the current tax credit and will align with changes in the future.
"We believe no one should have to choose between their job and caring for a loved one," said Joi Tillman, president, Group Benefits, Sun Life U.S. "While the Family and Medical Leave Act provides unpaid leave up to 12 weeks, many employees have the difficult decision of whether they can afford to take time off to tend to their families. With FLI, employers can choose to offer paid family leave benefits in a structure that aligns with their business and gives employees the ability to return to work less stressed and ready to be productive."
Built on decades of absence and leave management, and return-to-work expertise, Sun Life FLI fills a substantial benefits gap for employers in states without government programs. Sun Life FLI is offered as fully insured coverage, helping small and mid-size employers offer the benefit without the risk of self-funding.
"We now offer FLI in 11 states across the U.S. This will contribute to economic growth by attracting more workers to these regions and supporting the return-to-work process for those who go on leave," said Sheila Sokolski, vice president, Product Strategy and Portfolio Management, Sun Life U.S. "In addition to giving workers access to paid leave, FLI gives employers a powerful tool for talent recruitment and retention, as more professionals seek a robust benefits offering when considering jobs."
With Sun Life FLI, employees get the benefit of Sun Life's online claims submission, and employers can track employees' leave details, supporting overall health and productivity management. Sun Life's recent webinar on FLI can be found here.
Sun Life FLI will be available for quoting in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina on February 1, with additional states expected to approve filing in 2025.
