Granted, that may not be the goal, but it will surely be the result if Edward’s leave plan is ever implemented.

The former North Carolina senator on Tuesday will propose spending $2 billion a year to help states create family leave programs that offer workers at least eight weeks of paid time off to care for a newborn or ill family member. The proposal is similar to those offered by his rivals, but Edwards would put up more money—New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s plan calls for $1 billion a year; Illinois Sen. Barack Obama proposes $1.5 billion.

Edwards also would set a national goal of eight weeks of paid leave for all by 2014.

[...]

Like Clinton and Obama, Edwards also proposes expanding the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, co-authored by another Democratic presidential hopeful, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. Though Edwards wants to make 13 million more workers eligible for unpaid leave under the act, he noted that millions who are currently eligible don’t participate because they can’t afford to.

[...]

Edwards also would require all businesses to offer their workers a minimum of seven paid sick days a year.

Although Edward’s plan would probably exclude some smaller businesses the number excluded would have to be reduced from current law to make 13 million more workers eligible. And while Edward’s puts a price tag of $2 billion a year on the proposal, I can only imagine what the cost to businesses will be.