>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 16: REACTIONS FOLLOWING NORTH KOREA'S FAILED MISSILE TEST.
TURKEY'S PRESIDENT SEEKS MORE EXECUTIVE POWER.
AND IN OUR SIGNATURE SEGMENT-- PAID FAMILY LEAVE; A RARE JOB BENEFIT TAKING HOLD IN RHODE ISLAND.
>> THANKFULLY, RHODE ISLAND HAD THIS TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE IN PLACE, SO I WAS ABLE TO USE THAT TO COVER MY OWN CARE.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT A STRESSOR THAT WAS ON A FAMILY WHEN YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> Sreenivasan: NEXT ON "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."
>> FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.
>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER H.R.
McMASTER CALLS NORTH KOREA'S LATEST AND FAILED MISSILE TEST PART OF A, QUOTE, "PATTERN OF PROVOCATIVE, DESTABILIZING AND THREATENING BEHAVIOR."
ONLY HOURS AFTER YESTERDAY'S MASSIVE MILITARY PARADE IN PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED WHAT WAS BELIEVED TO BE A MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILE.
U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND SAID IT BLEW UP ONLY FOUR OR FIVE SECONDS AFTER LAUNCH.
SOUTH KOREA SAID THE TEST" THREATENED THE WHOLE WORLD" AND JAPAN CALLED IT A "PROVOCATION."
SHORTLY AFTER THE FAILED MISSILE TEST, THE PENTAGON SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD BEEN BRIEFED, BUT MR. TRUMP DID NOT COMMENT.
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDED EASTER SERVICES WITH HIS FAMILY TODAY AT A CHURCH IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE WAS ABOARD AIR FORCE TWO WHEN THE MISSILE TEST OCCURRED.
HE SPOKE ABOUT IT AFTER LANDING IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, HIS FIRST STOP ON A TEN DAY TRIP ABROAD THAT WILL ALSO TAKE HIM TO JAPAN, INDONESIA, AND AUSTRALIA.
>> THIS MORNING'S PROVOCATION FROM THE NORTH IS JUST THE LATEST REMINDER OF THE RISKS EACH ONE OF YOU FACE EVERY DAY IN THE DEFENSE OF THE FREEDOM OF THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH KOREA AND THE DEFENSE OF AMERICA IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
>> Sreenivasan: A FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER TRAVELING WITH PENCE SAID THE U.S. WAS NOT PLANNING AN IMMEDIATE MILITARY RESPONSE.
SEVEN DECADES AFTER THE KOREAN WAR, THE U.S.
STILL HAS 28,000 TROOPS STATIONED IN SOUTH KOREA.
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR H.R.
McMASTER, WHO WAS MEETING WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN AFGHANISTAN TODAY, SAID IN AN INTERVIEW THE U.S. AND CHINA ARE DEVELOPING A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH NORTH KOREA.
>> SO IN THE COMING WEEKS, MONTHS, I THINK THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US-- ALL OF US WHO ARE REALLY UNDER THE THREAT NOW OF THIS UNPREDICTABLE REGIME-- TO TAKE ACTION SHORT OF ARMED CONFLICT, SO WE CAN AVOID THE WORST.
>> Sreenivasan: THE ADMINISTRATION OF TURKEY'S PRESIDENT, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, IS CLAIMING VICTORY IN TODAY'S REFERENDUM TO EXPAND THE PRESIDENT'S EXECUTIVE POWERS.
WITH 99% OF THE VOTES COUNTED, TURKISH ELECTION OFFICIALS SAID 51% OF TURKS VOTED "YES" TO AMEND THE COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION.
IT WILL RESULT IN ABOLISHING THE OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER AND ALLOWING THE PRESIDENT TO DRAFT THE BUDGET, ISSUE DECREES, AND APPOINT JUDGES WITHOUT PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL.
PRESIDENT ERDOGAN CAST HIS BALLOT IN ISTANBUL AND CALLED A YES VOTE "A CHOICE FOR CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION."
OPPONENTS CHARGE THE CHANGES WILL LEAD TO AUTHORITARIAN, ONE- MAN RULE AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN CHALLENGING THE RESULTS.
FOR MORE ON THE REFERENDUM, I AM JOINED BY SKYPE FROM ISTANBUL BY "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTER PATRICK KINGSLEY.
PATRICK, THIS IS CLOSE.
I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING IT ALL NIGHT.
BUT ONE SIDE IS CLAIMING VICTORY AND THE OTHER SIDE SAYS, NOT SO FAST.
>> WELL, EXACTLY.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN HAS CLAIMED VICTORY.
HIS PRIME MINISTER BEN ALI WILL BE OUT OF A JOB, JUST MADE A SPEECH CLAIMING VICTORY.
THE MAIN OPPOSITION HAS CONTESTING WHAT IT SAYS AROUND 37% OF BALLOT BOXES AND THAT COULD BE WELL OVER TWO MILLION VOTES IN THERE.
>> Sreenivasan: WHAT IS THE CONCERN THE OPPOSITION HAS?
>> NO CIRCULATING TAKING FIVE BALLOT SLIPS AND PLACING THEM WITHIN A BALLOT BOX AND THE MAIN OPPOSITION, CHP SAYS THERE COULD BE THOUSANDS BUT YET TO BE PROVED.
>> Sreenivasan: HOW STRONG IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE OPPOSITION COULD MOUNT ENOUGH OF A CHALLENGE TO EIGHT OVER THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS?
FOR PEOPLE WATCHING IN THE UNITED STATES HOW COMPETITIVE IS IT THEN?
>> IT FEELS VERY UNLIKELY AT THE MOMENT.
PRESIDENT ERDOGAN IS FOR THE MOMENT THE MOST POPULAR MAN IN TURKEY AT THE MOMENT EVEN IF HE IS A VERY DIVISIVE MAN.
IF THERE'S A MAIN FIGURE WITHIN THE MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY WHO IS CURRENTLY OUT OF JAIL WHO COULD MOUNT A PARTICULARLY STRONG OPPOSITION TO HIM, NEVER SAY NEVER BUT HE SEEMS UNLIKELY TO WIN IN 2019 AND HIS OPPOSITION PARTY SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST PARTY IN PARLIAMENT.
THE ONLY MEANS TO HAVE A CHECK ON THE PRESIDENT IS TO FORM A MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT IN TURKEY RIGHT NOW BUT THAT SEEMS UNLIKELY.
>> HOW MUCH OF A FACTOR DID THE ATTEMPTED COUP PLAY INTO THIS VOTE?
>> IT MAY HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT, BECAUSE PRESIDENT ERDOGAN WAS ABLE TO SHOW THERE WAS A VERY REAL THREAT TO TURKISH DEMOCRACY.
THE FACTION IN THE ARMY TRYING TO SURFACE FROM POWER.
AND FOR THAT REASON, WE NEED TO CREATE A STABILITY AND YOU THE ELECTORATE NIGHT TO VOTE FOR THIS CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE THAT WOULD CENTRALIZE POWER OF THE PRESIDENT.
>> Sreenivasan: WAS TURKEY AND WAS ERDOGAN CONSCIOUS OF WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD THOUGHT OF THIS REFERENDUM AND WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW?
>> THEY WERE VERY CONSCIOUS, THE RENAL WHY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN AND HIS ALLIES STOKED SO MANY BATTLES WITH EUROPEAN AND EUROPEAN POLITICIANS, HE CALLED THE EUROPEANS NAZIS IN HOLLAND AND GERMANY, THE REASON HE DID THAT WAS TO SEEM TURKEY UNDER SIEGE, AND MAKING THEM SEEMING LIKE ONLY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN WAS STANDING UP FOR THEM AND TURKEY.
HE WAS VERY WELL AWARE OF HOW THEY FELT THE TURKEY AND HOW THEY FELT ABOUT IT.
>> Sreenivasan: THANK YOU PATRICK KINGSLEY.
>> Sreenivasan: IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT COULD UPSET NEIGHBORING INDIA, LANDLOCKED NEPAL TODAY LAUNCHED ITS FIRST EVER JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH CHINA, ITS NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH.
NEPAL SAID THE TEN DAYS OF EXERCISES AT ITS PARATROOP TRAINING SCHOOL IN KATHMANDU WILL FOCUS ON COUNTERTERRORISM, BUT DID NOT SAY HOW MANY NEPALESE AND CHINESE TROOPS ARE INVOLVED.
CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING AND NEPAL'S PRIME MINISTER MET RECENTLY IN BEIJING AND AGREED TO INCREASE COOPERATION.
CHINA ALSO GAVE NEPAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HELP IT REBUILD AFTER A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN 2015.
THE AMBITIOUS EVACUEE-SWAP OF SYRIAN CIVILIANS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL-HELD AREAS RESUMED TODAY FOLLOWING YESTERDAY'S DEVASTATING CAR BOMB ATTACK ON BUSES CARRYING EVACUEES NEAR ALEPPO.
TODAY'S EXCHANGE OF THOUSANDS OF EVACUEES INVOLVED FOUR BESIEGED TOWNS, TWO PRO-GOVERNMENT VILLAGES AND TWO REBEL-HELD TOWNS.
THE SYRIAN OBSERVATORY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SAYS THE DEATH TOLL FROM YESTERDAY'S BOMBING OF A BUS CONVOY HAS RISEN TO AT LEAST 126, WITH MOST OF THE VICTIMS WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
AT THE VATICAN TODAY, POPE FRANCIS DELIVERED HIS TRADITIONAL EASTER MESSAGE FROM THE BALCONY OF SAINT PETER'S BASILICA.
HIS FOCUS WAS WAR AND VIOLENCE AROUND THE WORLD, AND IN PARTICULAR, SYRIA.
REFERRING TO YESTERDAY'S BUS CONVOY BOMBING, THE POPE CONDEMNED WHAT HE CALLED, "THE LATEST VILE ATTACK" ON REFUGEES.
FRANCIS ALSO DENOUNCED REPRESSIVE REGIMES AND URGED WORLD LEADERS TO EASE CONFLICTS.
>> IN THE COMPLEX AND OFTEN DRAMATIC SITUATIONS OF TODAY'S WORLD, MAY THE RISEN LORD GUIDE THE STEPS OF ALL THOSE WHO WORK FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE.
MAY HE GRANT THE LEADERS OF NATIONS THE COURAGE THEY NEED TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CONFLICTS AND TO PUT A HALT TO THE ARMS TRADE.
>> THIS ARTIST AND FILMMAKER HAS DOCUMENTED THE RISE OF FAR RIGHT NATIONALISM IN CENTRAL EUROPE.
READ MORE AT www.pbs.org/newshour.
>> Sreenivasan: FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES AMERICAN COMPANIES WITH 50 OR MORE EMPLOYEES TO OFFER 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID FAMILY LEAVE TO CARE FOR A NEWBORN, ANOTHER CHILD, A SPOUSE, OR A PARENT WITH A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO LET ANYONE TAKING THE LEAVE TO COME BACK TO WORK.
NOW, DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE REINTRODUCED A BILL TO GRANT PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AND IT'S AN IDEA PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE WANTS TO PURSUE.
SOME STATES ARE ALREADY EXPERIMENTING WITH PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AND IN TONIGHT'S SIGNATURE SEGMENT, NEWSHOUR WEEKEND'S CHRISTOPHER BOOKER WENT TO ONE OF THEM-- RHODE ISLAND-- TO SEE HOW IT'S WORKING.
>> Reporter: LIVING AND WORKING IN RHODE ISLAND, JULIE MOURA HIT THE FAMILY LEAVE LOTTERY.
>> NOT ONLY DID I GET 20 WEEKS OFF, BUT I GOT 20 WEEKS PAID.
IT'S LIKE PEACE OF MIND, RIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING OUT AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET PAID AT THE SAME PAY, AND SO YOU'RE NOT WORRYING ABOUT THAT PIECE.
YOU'RE FOCUSING ON BONDING WITH THE BABY.
>> Reporter: HER LENGTHY MATERNITY LEAVE WAS A COMBINATION OF A RARE STATE INSURANCE PROGRAM AND HER EMPLOYER'S PAID FAMILY LEAVE POLICY.
SHE WORKS FOR THE RHODE ISLAND BASED TOY COMPANY, HASBRO, THE MAKERS OF MR.
POTATO HEAD, MY LITTLE PONY, AND SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST WELL KNOWN BOARD GAMES.
>> YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE AND TALENT, FOR US, IS EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: DOLPH JOHNSON HEADS HASBRO'S HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM.
HE SAYS PAID FAMILY LEAVE IS A BENEFIT THAT ENTICES QUALITY EMPLOYEES TO WORK FOR THE COMPANY.
>> NOT ONLY ARE WE RECRUITING GREAT TALENT, BUT THAT GREAT TALENT, THEY'RE RECRUITING COMPANIES.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH IMMENSE VALUE WE PUT ON RAISING KIDS, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CENTRAL TO OUR BUSINESS.
>> Reporter: JOHNSON SAYS COMPANIES LIKE DISNEY, GOOGLE, AND NETFLIX ARE MODELS HASBRO HAS TRIED TO EMULATE IN OFFERING PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
DISNEY OFFERS 12 WEEKS OF MATERNITY LEAVE, GOOGLE, FOUR MONTHS, AND NETFLIX, UP TO A YEAR OF PARENTAL LEAVE.
BUT THOSE COMPANIES AND HASBRO ARE RARE.
ONLY 13% OF AMERICAN PRIVATE SECTOR WORKERS HAVE ANY KIND OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
IN FACT, THE 1993 FEDERAL FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT REQUIRES EMPLOYERS ONLY TO OFFER 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE.
COMPANIES WITH 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES ARE EXEMPT, SO ONLY ABOUT 60% OF AMERICAN WORKERS ARE COVERED.
RHODE ISLAND DECIDED TO GO FURTHER THAN FEDERAL LAW.
IT REQUIRES EMPLOYEES TO PAY INTO A STATE FUND SO THEY CAN TAKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE.
SO WHETHER YOU WORK FOR RETAIL GIANT, URBAN OUTFITTERS OR A SMALL VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE.
RHODE ISLAND'S PROGRAM ALLOWS ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO COLLECT ABOUT 60% OF THEIR SALARY FOR FOUR WEEKS TO CARE FOR A NEWBORN, AN ADOPTED OR FOSTER CHILD.
EMPLOYEES CAN ALSO THE BENEFIT TO CARE FOR A SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD, A PARENT, A SPOUSE, A DOMESTIC PARTNER, A PARENT-IN- LAW OR GRANDPARENT.
THE PROGRAM, CALLED TEMPORARY CAREGIVER INSURANCE, OR T.C.I., IS AN EXTENSION OF THE STATE'S LONG STANDING DISABILITY INSURANCE.
FUNDED BY A 1.2% PAYROLL TAX ON MOST RHODE ISLAND EMPLOYEES, EVEN PART-TIME WORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INSURANCE PROGRAM.
THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT PAID OUT IS ABOUT $800 A WEEK AND WORKERS WHO TAKE IT ARE GUARANTEED THEIR JOB BACK WHEN RHODE ISLAND IMPLEMENTED THE LAW IN 2014, IT BECAME ONLY THE THIRD STATE TO MANDATE PAID FAMILY LEAVE, AFTER CALIFORNIA AND NEW JERSEY.
NEXT YEAR, NEW YORK IS SCHEDULED TO JOIN THEM.
JULIE MOURA, WHO ALREADY HAD PAID FAMILY LEAVE OFFERED BY HER COMPANY, GOT EVEN MORE PAID TIME OFF.
AND BECAUSE OF THE STATE MANDATE, HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO JOIN HER FOR FOUR WEEKS WHEN THEIR LAST BABY WAS BORN.
>> I THINK THAT MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WERE ABLE TO NOT STRESS AS MUCH AS WE DID THE FIRST TIME AND KNOW THAT WE HAD THESE ADDITIONAL WEEKS AND THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF PAY.
SO IT, I MEAN, INVALUABLE TIME.
>> THERE WAS CERTAINLY STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC.
>> Reporter: RHODE ISLAND STATE SENATOR, GAYLE GOLDIN SPONSORED THE FAMILY LEAVE LAW.
THE DEMOCRAT WAS INSPIRED BY HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
16 YEARS AGO, A SERIOUS BACK INJURY LEFT HER ON DISABILITY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
>> THANKFULLY, RHODE ISLAND HAD THIS TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE IN PLACE, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO USE THAT TO COVER MY OWN CARE.
BUT MY HUSBAND DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IN ORDER TO CARE GIVE FOR ME.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHEN WE REALIZED WHAT A STRESSOR THAT WAS ON A FAMILY WHEN YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> Reporter: SENATOR GOLDIN SAYS IN RHODE ISLAND, THE LAW IS MEANT TO FILL THE GAP, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE RANKED NINTH IN RESIDENTS OVER AGE 65.
>> THE REALITY IS THAT MOST CHILDREN HAVE THEIR PARENTS IN THE WORKFORCE, AND MOST PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DEAL WITH AGING PARENTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVEN IF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, THEY DO HAVE LOVED ONES THAT ARE GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY ILL AT SOME POINT.
IT'S A REALITY WE ALL EXPERIENCE.
SO THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AT LEAST SOME MINIMUM BENEFIT WHEN THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE OUT OF WORK TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.
>> Reporter: AFTER THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE LAW WAS IMPLEMENTED, THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT CONTRACTED UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND SOCIOLOGIST HELEN MEDERER AND PSYCHOLOGIST BARBARA SILVER TO STUDY THE PROGRAM.
>> THE PEOPLE WHO TOOK T.C.I.
WERE MORE LIKELY TO ENDORSE BETTER PHYSICAL HEALTH, THEY WERE MORE LIKELY TO INITIATE AND SUSTAIN BREASTFEEDING FOR NEW CHILDREN, THEY REPORTED LESS STRESS, AND LESS FAMILY STRESS, WHICH AS WE KNOW IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
>> WE ALSO FOUND A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF ABSENTEEISM AFTER RETURNING TO WORK, AMONG PEOPLE WHO USE T.C.I.
>> Reporter: BUT THE RESEARCHERS DID FIND A DIFFERENCE IN JUST WHO WAS USING THE BENEFIT.
ACROSS ALL INCOME GROUPS, LOSS OF PAY WAS THE MOST FREQUENTLY REPORTED REASON FOR NOT USING THE PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM, BUT HIGHER EARNERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO USE THE BENEFIT.
>> SO LOWER WAGE WORKERS NOT ONLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE WHAT'S OFFERED TO THEM, FROM THE STATE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYER BENEFITS, THEY CAN'T AFFORD ALTERNATIVE CARE, AND SO THEY'RE LEFT WITH NOTHING, AND THEY'RE LEFT WITH VERY UNHAPPY CHOICES.
DO I LEAVE MY SICK CHILD AT HOME, AND GO TO WORK?
DO I NOT GO TO WORK, AND LOSE MY JOB?
DO I REDUCE MYSELF TO PART TIME?
DO I GO ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE?
WHICH IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DO.
>> Reporter: THROUGHOUT THE STATE, A MAJORITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED EMPLOYERS SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
ONLY A QUARTER OPPOSE IT.
THAT OPPOSITION IS STRONGEST AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES.
MIKE CHENEVERT RUNS SWISSLINE PRECISION, A MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT PRODUCES COMPONENTS OF MEDICAL, AEROSPACE, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS.
MOST OF HIS 51 EMPLOYEES ARE HIGHLY SKILLED TECHNICIANS WHO RUN COMPLEX MACHINES.
HOW MUCH TRAINING DOES IT TAKE TO GET AN EMPLOYEE UP TO SPEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE ORDERS?
>> TO GET SOMEBODY WHERE THEY CAN PROGRAM AND SET UP A MACHINE, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME AND INVESTMENT.
>> Reporter: SO, SIX MONTHS OR...?
>> IT CAN TAKE UPWARDS OF A YEAR.
>> Reporter: CHENEVERT SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH AS AN EMPLOYER HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY INTO THE T.C.I.
PROGRAM, THERE IS A COST.
LOSING EVEN ONE WORKER FOR FOUR WEEKS OF PAID FAMILY LEAVE CAN HURT THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTIVITY.
>> WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAMILY- ORIENTED COMPANY.
WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO WORK WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND GIVE THEM THE TIME THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
IT CAN REALLY BE DEVASTATING IN SOME ASPECTS.
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A TOP-NOTCH, SOMEONE THAT'S GOING TO BE SETTING UP AND PROGRAMMING THE MACHINES.
I LOSE ONE PERSON THAT DOES THAT, IT DEFINITELY CAN PUT A LOT OF BURDEN ON THE OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN OUR FACILITY.
>> Reporter: WHILE THE FEDERAL FAMILY LEAVE LAW EXEMPTS COMPANIES WITH 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES, RHODE ISLAND'S LAW DOES NOT.
>> YOU DO HAVE BIG COMPANIES THAT ARE MULTIBILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES, THEN YOU HAVE SMALLER COMPANIES LIKE OURSELVES.
I MEAN IT'S, IT CAN BE DAUNTING TO TRY TO KIND OF PUT EVERYBODY IN THE SAME BUCKET.
SOME OF THE BIG COMPANIES HAVE A LOT MORE RESOURCES THAN WE DO.
AND THEY ALSO OFFER DIFFERENT BENEFIT PACKAGES THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET.
>> Reporter: WE MET WITH A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND WHILE HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORT, HIS CRITICISM IS THAT THE PRODUCTIVITY HIT THAT HE TAKES.
>> THE REALITY IS PEOPLE HAVE HEART ATTACKS WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE IN PLACE.
SO BUSINESSES ALREADY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT, THE LOSS OF SOMEBODY BEING OUT OF OFFICE OR OUT OF THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY OR WHEREVER THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THIS IS AT LEAST GIVING RELIEF TO THE EMPLOYEE.
AND TO THE EMPLOYER, NOW THEY ONLY HAVE ONE THING THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, WHICH IS HOW TO FILL UP THAT SPACE WHILE THE EMPLOYEE'S OUT.
>> Reporter: JOHN SIMMONS WOULD LIKE THE FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM TO BE OPTIONAL.
HE'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE COUNCIL, A BUSINESS-FUNDED POLICY RESEARCH ORGANIZATION.
>> SO WE BELIEVE THE OPT-OUT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEES.
THERE IS A WHOLE MARKET OUT THERE ON SHORT- AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY THAT COULD REPLACE IT.
COULD BE MOBILE, COULD BE PORTABLE BY THE EMPLOYEE AS WELL.
>> Reporter: WHILE COMPANIES LIKE HASBRO BELIEVE OFFERING PAID FAMILY LEAVE BEYOND THE STATE MANDATE GIVES IT A RECRUITMENT ADVANTAGE, SIMMONS WORRIES THE MANDATE TO OFFER TEMPORARY CAREGIVER INSURANCE HURTS COMPETITION FOR JOBS WITH NEIGHBORING STATES.
>> MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT DO NOT OFFER T.C.I., SO WE NOW ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACH TO GO THINK OF THIS AS A MARKET-DRIVEN QUESTION.
THE EMPLOYER SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER IT OR NOT OFFER IT.
>> Reporter: ABOUT 15,000 RHODE ISLAND RESIDENTS HAVE TAKEN PAID FAMILY LEAVE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
NOW, SENATOR GOLDIN IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A BILL TO DOUBLE THE STATE PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFIT FROM THE MAXIMUM FOUR WEEKS TO EIGHT.
>> WE CAN'T RELY SOLELY ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SOLVE THIS.
IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD WHEN A COMPANY DOES STEP UP, BUT IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE IT IS NOT ENOUGH?
>> IT WON'T COVER EVERYBODY, AND THIS SHOULDN'T RELY ON WINNING THE BOSS LOTTERY IN ORDER TO GET THE BENEFITS THAT YOU NEED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE INVESTED IN AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS IT.
>> Sreenivasan: THERE'S A SPECIAL ELECTION ON TUESDAY FOR AN OPEN SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO FILL THE VACANCY LEFT BY TOM PRICE, WHO'S NOW THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
THE RACE IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION AND MONEY.
THE SIXTH DISTRICT IN THE ATLANTA SUBURBS, AS IT'S NOW DRAWN, HAS BEEN SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN FOR 25 YEARS.
BUT A 30-YEAR-OLD DEMOCRATIC NEWCOMER, JON OSSOFF, IS MAKING A STRONG RUN FOR THE SEAT.
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THE RACE IS "ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION" REPORTER GREG BLUESTEIN.
WE DON'T USUALLY TALK ABOUT GEORGIA 6th.
WHY IS THAT SUCH A BIG DEAL?
>> NO WE DON'T USUALLY TALK ABOUT THE GEORGIA SIXTH.
MOST PEOPLE IN ATLANTA WOULD BE A SLEEPY RACE WHEN TOM PRICE WAS TAPPED AS DONALD TRUMP'S HEALTH SECRETARY.
BUT TRUMP'S EARLY STRUGGLES AND THE TEPID SUPPORT IN THE DISTRICT HAVE MADE THIS A NATIONAL STORY.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY IS FLOWING IN BOTH SIDES OF THIS?
>> 14 MILLION HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT ON THE ADVERTISING IN THIS DISTRICT ALONE, AND JON OSSOFF HAS RAISED AN UNPRECEDENTED $8.3 MILLION FOR A NEWCOMER IN A CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.
HE HAS FLOODED THE AIR WAVES WITH ADS AND CONSTITUENTS HAVE GOTTEN TWO, THREE, FOUR FLIERS A DAY.
>> Sreenivasan: "WELL, GEORGIA COULD BE THE ONE THAT FLIPS BACK AND FORTH."
THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT THAT HAS EVER TRENDED DEMOCRATIC, AT LEAST NOT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS.
>> PRICE HAS WON LANDSLIDE VICTORY AFTER LANDSLIDE VICTORY EVERY TWO YEARS.
DEMOCRATS ARE TEMPERING EXPECTATIONS.
HIGHER PROFILE DEMOCRATS I'M TALKING TO BUT WITH, COUPLED WITH THE $8.3 MILLION HE'S RAISED AND A SURGE OF ENTHUSIASM AND THERE'S CLEARLY AN ENTHUSIASM GAP AND JON OSSOFF IS IN THE 40s IN MOST OF THE POLLS, WITHIN THE STRIKING DISTANCE OF 50% VICTORY THAT HE WANTS BUT UNBELIEVABLY TOUGH HAUL FOR HIM.
REPUBLICANS FAR OUTNUMBER DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICT AND THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN IN REPUBLICAN HANDS ESSENTIALLY SINCE JIMMY CARTER'S ERA.
>> Sreenivasan: THIS IS NOT EXPECTED TO DECIDE THE WINNER ON TUESDAY.
>> NO, IT IS NOT.
THERE ARE 18 CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.
IF NO ONE GETS A MAJORITY OF VOTE THERE WILL BE A JUNE 20 RUNOFF BETWEEN THE TWO TOP VOTE GETTERS.
OSSOFF'S BEST CHANCE MIGHT BE TO GET THAT OUTRIGHT VICTORY.
THE 11 REPUBLICANS ARE FRACTIOUS SO OSSOFF IS AIMING FOR THE OUTRIGHT VICTORY.
HE IS CLOSE IN THE POLLS, WITHIN 45 OF THE POLLS BUT WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE BUT NOT QUITE THERE YET IT LOOKS LIKE.
>> Sreenivasan: HAS IT ENERGIZED THE DEMOCRATIC BASE?
>> IT HAS.
WE ARE HEARING FROM NEW DEMOCRATIC GROUPS, LIKE THE RED CLAY REBELLION AND OUT OF THE WOODWORK THESE DEMOCRATIC GROUPS AND THESE DEEP RED TERRITORIES ARE SHOWING UP.
JON'S CREEK IS REDDEST PART OF THE DISTRICT AND A REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST SENT ME A PICTURE OF 150 OSSOFF SUPPORTERS.
REPUBLICANS ARE STARTING TO GET UNNERVED ABOUT IT ALL.
>> Sreenivasan: GREG BLUESTEIN.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS IS PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, SUNDAY.
>> Sreenivasan: TODAY MARKS TEN YEARS SINCE THE MOST LETHAL SCHOOL SHOOTING IN THE UNITED STATES-- THE 2007 MASSACRE AT VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY.
FAMILIES OF THE 32 STUDENTS AND FACULTY SLAIN THAT DAY AND SURVIVORS WHO WERE SHOT GATHERED FOR A MIDNIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE ON CAMPUS.
A CANDLE WAS LIT FOR EVERYONE KILLED AND EACH OF THEIR NAMES WERE READ ALOUD.
MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA TECH CORPS OF CADETS STOOD GUARD OVER THE FLOWER-COVERED MEMORIAL FOR 32 MINUTES.
THIS MORNING, VIRGINIA'S GOVERNOR AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS LAID A WREATH AT THE OUTDOOR MEMORIAL, AT 9:43 AM, THE TIME WHEN A MENTALLY DISTURBED STUDENT, ARMED WITH TWO SEMI- AUTOMATIC PISTOLS, BEGAN SHOOTING IN A DORM AND THEN A CLASSROOM.
HE LATER SHOT HIMSELF.
THERE'S A MASSIVE NEW CRACK IN ONE OF GREENLAND'S LARGEST GLACIERS.
IT'S LOCATED IN THE CENTER PETERMANN GLACIER'S ICE SHELF-- 300 SQUARE MILES OF THICK ICE THAT RESTS ON ARCTIC OCEAN WATER IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF GREENLAND.
SCIENTISTS STUDYING SATELLITE IMAGERY TAKEN BY THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY WERE THE FIRST TO OBSERVE THE CRACK.
NASA CONFIRMED IT WITH AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS ON FRIDAY.
THE CRACK COULD BE CAUSED BY WARMING OCEAN WATERS UNDERNEATH THE ICE SHELF CAUSING IT TO MELT.
IT ELEVATES CONCERNS ABOUT MORE OF THE PETERMANN GLACIER FALLING APART, CONTRIBUTING TO SEA LEVEL RISE.
IN 2010, A 100-SQUARE MILE SECTION OF THE GLACIER-- FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN-- BROKE OFF.
IN 2012, SO DID ANOTHER SECTION ABOUT HALF THAT SIZE.
THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS HAVE UNVEILED A STATUE OF THE LATE JACKIE ROBINSON, OUTSIDE DODGER STADIUM.
THE CEREMONY LAST NIGHT MARKED THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEBUT AS THE MAJOR LEAGUES' FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLAYER BACK WHEN THE DODGERS PLAYED IN BROOKLYN.
THE BRONZE STATUE SHOWS ROBINSON STEALING HOME, A FEAT HE ACCOMPLISHED 19 TIMES IN HIS TEN YEAR, HALL OF FAME CAREER.
HIS WIDOW, RACHEL, AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN WERE ON HAND FOR THE UNVEILING.
FINALLY, "THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS" HAS MADE BOX OFFICE HISTORY, RACKING UP THE BIGGEST MOVIE OPENING WORLDWIDE EVER, EVEN BEATING "STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS."
IT'S ESTIMATED THE EIGHTH INSTALLMENT OF THE FRANCHISE EARNED MORE THAN $532 MILLION OVER THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
SO FAR, THE SERIES HAS BANKED ALMOST $4.5 BILLION AND COUNTING.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND."
I'M HARI SREENIVASAN.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
