Darla Senecal, Bristol

This year, I required two major surgeries. My doctor advised me to take six full weeks off to recover after each procedure. I could only take three weeks for the first surgery and four weeks for the second — part of that was unpaid — because I didn’t have enough paid leave to cover the basic needs of our household.

Nicole Sener, Essex Junction

My hardworking staff lacks the support they need to properly take care of themselves and their own families. … A recent staff retention survey named paid leave as a top priority. But we, as a small employer, simply cannot afford to provide paid leave benefits from the private market.

Chelsea Myers, Fairfax VT

A perfect storm of health emergencies have damaged my family emotionally and financially. It would have been much easier to weather if we had access to paid family and medical leave.

Amber Hewston, Wilder VT

As a mother of two who experienced the value of paid leave myself, I hope Vermont legislators will seize the opportunity to pass a universal paid family and medical leave program this year.

Logan Snow, Bennington VT

I found out my father unexpectedly passed away while I was on my lunch break at my job in retail. I took the rest of that Wednesday off, unpaid, as well as Thursday and Friday. His funeral was on Saturday, and I went back to work on Monday.

Sophie Quest, Burlington VT

As an 89-year-old widowed woman, I feel very fortunate that my 50-year-old daughter, Eva, invited me to live with her for the rest of my life. … Family caregivers are stepping in to do what’s right. They need and deserve more support, with programs such as paid family and medical leave.

Tammy Smith, Westford VT

Losing your parents within a month of each other is hard enough without the guilt of feeling like you could have done more. That was the case for me and my siblings. Though we lost our parents five years ago, I still carry that weight.

Eva Zaret, Plainfield VT

Every day, I wonder how different the beginning of my daughter Emma’s life would have been if I had the paid leave we desperately needed.