Earlier today, Chairman Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus.
The Wall Street Journal reports, "House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller said his bill would ensure that workers wouldn't miss out on wages if they contract the illness. The employer would be required to pay for the sick leave, and there would be no cost to the taxpayer, Mr. Miller said.
The bill wouldn't oblige employers to pay for workers' time off. It would tell them that, if they intend to send employees who are ill home, they must then pay for them to have up to five days' leave.
Mr. Miller said his panel would hold a hearing on the legislation the week of Nov. 16. If the bill is successfully enacted by Congress, it would take effect 15 days after being signed into law, and expire in two years."
Explaining why this bill is needed, Contra Costa Times quotes Chairman Miller, "Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn’t have to choose between their livelihood, and their co-workers’ or customer’s health. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don’t spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.”
And the next steps according to Reuters are, "Miller said the committee would hold a hearing the week of November 16 and he would press to have a full vote as soon as possible.
Miller said at least 50 million American workers are not paid for time taken off sick, 'many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.'"
For more background on who does and doesn't get sick leave, see this post on the New York Times' Economix blog.
The Wall Street Journal reports, "House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller said his bill would ensure that workers wouldn't miss out on wages if they contract the illness. The employer would be required to pay for the sick leave, and there would be no cost to the taxpayer, Mr. Miller said.
The bill wouldn't oblige employers to pay for workers' time off. It would tell them that, if they intend to send employees who are ill home, they must then pay for them to have up to five days' leave.
Mr. Miller said his panel would hold a hearing on the legislation the week of Nov. 16. If the bill is successfully enacted by Congress, it would take effect 15 days after being signed into law, and expire in two years."
Explaining why this bill is needed, Contra Costa Times quotes Chairman Miller, "Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn’t have to choose between their livelihood, and their co-workers’ or customer’s health. This will not only protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don’t spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1.”
And the next steps according to Reuters are, "Miller said the committee would hold a hearing the week of November 16 and he would press to have a full vote as soon as possible.
Miller said at least 50 million American workers are not paid for time taken off sick, 'many in lower-wage jobs that have direct contact with the public such as the food-service and hospitality industry, schools and health care fields.'"
For more background on who does and doesn't get sick leave, see this post on the New York Times' Economix blog.
Are you people nuts? Most of the people in this country who work for employers who do not provide paid sick leave do so because they can't get hired by the more generous companies. Most of those employers are small businesses like mine. I can't afford to pay someone not to work, and I don't see why I should be forced to choose between my own health and my income - and no one pays ME not to work, either. I guess 10% unemployment isn't high enough for Democrats and you want to go for 15%.
This legislation is garbage. George Miller says "There is no cost to the taxpayer" If I owned a gas station, and I have extra cost....Guess what? I'm raising my gas price to cover the extra cost.
Great care must be used in crafting any mandatory requirement for sick pay to all employees in order to avoid the excessive expense caused to employers by abuse of the benefit. Many employers already provide sick pay or PTO benefits to most employees, and I can only see this type of bill becoming an administrative nightmare, especially for hospitals and other employers in the healthcare provider business, who generally already provide some type of absence coverage benefits to most staff employed at least half-time.
@a small business owner - This bill would guarantee paid sick leave only to workers if their employer asks them to stay home with swine flu or a similar contagious illness. Additionally, it would exempt small businesses with less than 15 employees.
@John - The bill does not raise costs. Not only will it protect employees, but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don’t spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from H1N1. It’s estimated that a single worker who comes to work with the flu infects 10% of the workforce. It’s good for workers’ health and safety and for our economy.
@Ms. Macfarlane - Businesses that already offer at least five days paid sick leave would be exempt under this bill. Furthermore, the paid sick leave under this emergency measure would be triggered only when the employer decides to tell someone to stay home or go home because of a contagious illness.