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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 N OV E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 From the Editor T he paid leave law is designed to offer comfort to employees who are dealing with the illness of family members or people close to them. Under the law, which will take effect in 2026, employees can take up to three months paid leave. It's been called one of the country's broadest and most generous paid family and medical leave programs. While well-intended, the law is sending small busi- nesses into panic mode, as Senior Writer Renee Cordes reports. "If we don't produce, we don't get paid," says one small business owner. "And how can you produce with no help? We need people now." See her story, "Feuding over family leave," which starts on Page 14. Elsewhere in the issue, Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber looks at Maine Law's rural lawyers program, which places lawyers in key places around the state. It's clear there's a need. In Piscataquis County, with 17,165 people covering an area nearly the size of Connecticut, there are only eight lawyers. See her story, "Lawyering up," which starts on Page 19. #MaineStrong Like other Mainers, the Mainebiz team was devas- tated to hear of the events in Lewiston on Oct. 25 — with 18 people killed and another 13 injured in the state's worst mass shooting. We often say Maine is like a small town. Our hearts are with the people of Lewiston and the entire Maine community. We are heartened by the response to the tragedy and efforts to help the victims' families, community members, first responders and medical personnel. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz While well-intended, the paid leave law is a worry for small businesses. Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's top business news daily at Mainebiz.biz or by signing up for the Daily Report and Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here's our top content from Oct. 23 to Nov. 6: 1. After half a century, downtown Saco pizza shop gets new owner 2. Mass shootings in Lewiston prompt business closures throughout the state 3. Waterfront restaurant in Stonington sells to long-time Bar Harbor restaurateurs 4. Boots on the ground: LLBean's Gorman sheds light on family, non-family roles at 111-year-old firm 5. $2.25M sale is Portland's highest for two-family home in 2023, so far 6. After slow start, condo building on end of Portland's East End reaches finish line 7. On eve of sports gambling launch, Maine slaps betting business with $400K fine 8. The 2023 Mainebiz NextUp: 40 Under 40 Awards 9. Coffee By Design closes original shop on Portland's Congress Street after nearly 30 years 10. #MaineStrong: Businesses flock to social media after mass shooting to share news, show support P H O T O / A L E X I S W E L L S 1 bernsteinshur.com Meet Eviana Englert. Leader of the firm's new Family Formation Practice, Evi combines complex litigation skills with their personal family-building experience to help people successfully navigate the legal processes of growing a family through surrogacy, adoption, and assisted reproductive technology. We're attorneys. But we're people first. Eviana Englert, Shareholder The paid leave law will test small businesses in Maine

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