That measure, as well as AB 2716, have gained the support of community groups and labor organizations. But small business representatives said more legislation will only hurt an already depressed business market in California. Ray Keating of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council says, "California already ranks 49th for being business friendly. When government steps in to impose mandates like this, there's going to be higher costs." Ma says that wasn't the case after San Francisco implemented paid sick leave. "We have not heard any businesses or business organizations that have come out and said Proposition F has hurt our businesses,". AB 2716 must still be heard by several committees before going before the state assembly and senate. Ma says she hopes it passes in time to make it to the governor's desk by September.
Friday, 29 February 2008 00:57
Assemblywoman Introduces Paid Sick Leave Bill
Each day, six million
Californians show up for work knowing that if they called in sick, they
wouldn't get paid. Now, a state lawmaker wants to change that by making mandatory sick time available to
all workers in California.
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, has introduced Assembly Bill
2716, which would provide five sick days each year for employees of small
businesses and up to nine sick days a year for those who work for large companies.
Ma said that nearly 40
percent of Californians do not currently have paid sick leave benefits. Last
year, the city of San Francisco
implemented Measure F, which mandates paid sick leave for anyone who works in San Francisco.
