New Calif. Bill Would Give All Workers Paid Sick Leave

NBC 11, April 9, 2008

SACRAMENTO - California could become the first state in the country to require paid sick days for all workers, if a controversial bill is eventually passed in Sacramento.

Working parents have been fighting the business community about the issue, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.

Working mother Janel Martinez of San Jose said she works two part-time jobs with no paid sick days.

"If I was sick or my son was sick, I would have to call in and risk losing my job for not being there," Martinez said.

Martinez and other working women went to the Capitol Wednesday to push for the bill, which would require businesses with 10 or more workers to offer nine sick days per year.

Companies with fewer than 10 employees would have to offer five paid sick days, Luery said.

The bill is modeled after a San Francisco ordinance that has been on the books for two years, Luery said.

"Since it's been implemented in San Francisco, businesses have not found a significant impact on their businesses," San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma said.

The bill's supporters pointed to studies that back up the claim the rules would be good for business.

"Paid sick days are a key public health measure allowing workers with infectious diseases to avoid contact with customers and co-workers," said Dr. Vicky Lovell of the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

The biggest impact may be on the fast-food industry in which many workers are part time and have no sick days, Luery said.

The business community is fighting back, calling the bill a potential job killer.

"We believe that additional cost could lead to layoffs, could lead to fewer folks being employed," said Marc Burgat of the California Chamber of Commerce.

With California facing a more than $16 billion budget shortfall, many agree with Burgat, Luery said.

The paid sick leave bill passed its hearing in the Assembly committee on Labor and Employment Wednesday, Luery said.

It will now move on to the Assembly Judiciary Committee for another vote next week.
If it passes it would need approval from the entire Assembly before moving to the state Senate and, eventually, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Luery said.