California Could Force Employers to Provide Paid Sick Leave for All Employees

Fox6 News, May 30, 2008

By Eric Collins

 California could become the first state in the nation to force employers to provide paid sick leave for every worker.

If this legislation passes,  more than five million Californians ,  a third of the state's workforce,  would now receive paid sick days.

 "That sounds ridiculous,”  said Ray Frey.

Frey owns an auto repair shop in Kearny Mesa.

If the bill passes, he will have to provide nine sick days every year for his 17 mechanics. 

Businesses with 10 employees or less would have to give at least five sick days.  

"We're not prepared for that." 

Ray calls the bill an unfair mandate from a state that already enforces several requirements.

"I have to buy licenses for every piece of equipment I have in my shop. I have to do the payroll taxes and workman's comp,  this is just another addition to the cost of doing business."

When costs climb for businesses,  customers often feel the pinch.

"We'll have to charge the consumer more money to do a tune-up on their car or an oil change."

Hans Witzell supports the legislation.

He’s a waiter who rarely calls in sick because he doesn’t get paid when he doesn’t show up.

He calls sick days a form of preventative medicine for both workers and customers.

 "You're not going to get your other employees sick.  If they get sick they've got to come to work sick and it could spread also."

"When you're sick you can't get penalized for that,”  said Gerlie Ventura.

She’s one of several people Fox 6 News interviewed who thought California employers were already required to provide sick pay.

 "When you work in a good environment,  you work for people who care about you then you give that 110%,  otherwise I would probably half ass my job too,” said Ventura.

The state Assembly passed this legislation Wednesday.

It now heads to the state Senate.

So far the governor has not taken a position on the bill.

We'll keep you posted on its status.