Paid Sick Days Bill Makes Its Second Debut
by Christine Stuart | February 9, 2009 12:30 PM
Posted to Health Care
| Labor
| State Capitol
A bill that would allow workers to accumulate one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked has been revived again this year. Last year it passed the Senate, but died on the House calendar.
Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, said Monday that the bill is reasonably drafted to be applied to employers with more than 50 employees. He said when he talked to business owners while on the campaign trail many of them had already adopted this policy on their own.
The maximum amount of paid sick days an employee could earn under the bill would be 6.5 days per year and none of those days could be carried over to the following year.
Gloria Duquette, a certified nurse’s assistant, said working while she’s sick isn’t healthy for her or her clients. But “I just can’t afford to lose those days,” she said.
“Who of us doesn’t get sick every once in awhile?” Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, one of the bill’s main proponents, said.
Prague implored the opponents of the legislation to read an article on Forbes.com that shows employers save money when its employees stay home when they’re sick. Click here to read that article.
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association said it would still oppose the bill again this year.
Kia Murrell, assistant counsel for CBIA, said this is one of the worst tomes to increase mandates on employers. She said some of the industries that may be affected by the legislation include construction, tourism, and food service.
“Sick leave is not an entitlement, it’s a benefit,” Murrell said.
Proponents argue it’s a public health issue. The Everybody Benefits coalition estimates there are 630,000 employees in Connecticut that don’t get paid sick days. Among them are hundreds of thousands who work in the food service, retail, and health care field, where a sick employee can easily spread illness to the public.
The Everybody Benefits coalition is optimistic that its Paid Sick Days bill will pass both chambers this year.
Jon Green, executive director of Connecticut Working Families, said Speaker of the House Chris Donovan has said he would like to run the bill this year in the House. Last year former Speaker of the House James Amann was an obstacle. “This year I think we have a friendlier Speaker,” Green said.
Comments (4)
Posted by: iBlog | February 9, 2009 9:49 PM
Let me guess some history:
1910:
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) objects to a proposal to prevent factories from employing children under the age of 6: "This anti-jobs bill will cripple industry and force millions of America's children to return to school - which they dislike. And industry is already doing this anyway."
1922:
The CBIA voices strong opposition to a proposal requiring fire escapes in workplaces of more than five stories: "This anti-jobs bill will cripple industry and allow malcontents to slip past our armed guards and "escape" their assigned responsibilities. And industry is already doing this anyway."
1937:
The CBIA has announced that it will strongly oppose any government efforts to shorten the work week from eight days to seven days. "This anti-jobs bill will cripple industry and force workplaces to lose a valuable day of productivity. And industry is already doing this anyway."
1947:
A CBIA spokesperson says the organization will fight a bill that would require employee restrooms in the workplace. "This anti-jobs bill will cripple industry and give employees yet another excuse to slack off in their work. And industry is already doing this anyway."
Only in America!
Posted by: ACR![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| February 10, 2009 8:06 AM
What are we missing here?
Has anyone polled employers of over 50?
Is there an employer of over 50 that doesn't have paid sick time?
How about over 25?
Is there one?
Even one?
Do we really need to codify what already exists?
Fine by me, but shouldn't the legislature be spending more time on things with a little more substance?
Overall they're a good organization and don't deserve to be painted in the fictional light iblog does here.
However; nothing CBIA does should surprise anyone as John Rathgeber is simply not a nice man, nor is he ideologically committed to business, but rather to keeping his high paying high profile job.
Be a shame to give up the country club membership, you understand.
Posted by: give me a break | February 11, 2009 6:54 PM
I work for a top 10 employeer. We try to go to the bathroom we get in trouble. We use sick days we have we get in trouble. These are our unions caving in to the capitalized market. I wish they could stand up to these giants. Tell them we are not going to take it. No but they bow down to them to be allow them to walk over you. they allow them cut you pay, and allow sick days to be heald accountable against you. Yes there is one employer that is in this bracket that does not pay you on your first sick day. if you take 5 separate sick days you will not get paid for those sick days. If you have more than 5 incidents in a 12 month calender period you will be disiplined.i now it happened to me. with this fortune 10 company. this bill would Drive more business out of town if this is implemented. This would mean less revenue for the state buy the taxes that are generated by the busineses.
Posted by: Karin Bickford | February 11, 2009 7:17 PM
How many employers in CT hire part-time workers so they don't have to pay benefits? For most it is the only reason they hire part-time employees. Most PT workers are putting in close to FT hours (plenty of hours available up to that magic number 40!) There are people who like working part-time, and they deserve the same benefits offered to their FT associates. I think the Working Families Party has the right idea. They have my vote, and I am going to contact my representative at the state house and tell them to support the legislation that is for the benefit of the people who elected them.