EMPLOYMENT LAW: Hearing for CA Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Bill in the Works

April 7, 2011

California – The first hearing for a bill proposed by San Francisco Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma that would require employers to pay for sick leave for at least seven days is set on April 13, reports said.

Assemblywoman Ma first introduced the bill AB 400 in 2008, and again the following year. If approved, firms with less than ten employees would have to give seven paid sick leaves to employees each year, while larger companies would have to give nine days. Workers would become eligible for the leave once, 90 days after being on the job.

Paid sick leaves could be used for their own or a family member’s sickness and doctor’s appointments. It would also be required for domestic violence, sexual assault, or other related issues. Companies would be fined for denying leave, or discriminating or retaliating against an employee who requested for it.

The new version of the bill was introduced after a research conducted by The Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that San Francisco’s 2006 mandated paid sick leave benefits employees and affects employers’ profitability insignificantly.

Business groups like The California Chamber of Commerce oppose AB 400 because it “unreasonably expands both public and private employers' costs and liability for new protected and paid sick leave for employees.”

Members of the National Federation of Independent Business/California (NFIB) are also against such laws, since a study they conducted found that it would cost employers $22 billion.

Aside from California, states like Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, and New Hampshire have been introduced to similar bills. Such laws affect small businesses greater, compared to large companies, since they are less likely to offer paid sick leave.