Support Grows for Paid Sick Leave Requirements
Supporters of mandatory paid sick leave plan to form a coalition to support federal legislation on the issue after San Francisco voters last month approved a ballot measure establishing a sick leave requirement, the New York Times reports (Greenhouse, New York Times, 12/5).
Under the San Francisco measure, employees will accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The rule applies to full-time, part-time or temporary employees.
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees must offer a maximum of five paid sick days a year per employee, and larger employers must offer a maximum of nine days. The days can be used to care for a sick child, partner, or other family member (California Healthline, 11/10).
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) -- who is expected to become chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee -- last year introduced legislation that would have required employers with at least 15 employees to provide seven sick days annually. The bill faced obstacles in the Republican-led Congress, but Kennedy said a Democratic leadership might be more open to such legislation.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced similar legislation in the House.
Kennedy said the proposed legislation would expand paid sick leave to 66 million U.S. residents.
The Times reports that similar efforts are underway in Maine, Maryland, Montana and other states.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business lobbying groups say they will oppose the efforts (New York Times, 12/5).