City Council leadership is expected to decide soon on whether to go ahead with a controversial paid sick leave bill that is pitting many of the city’s business leaders against their workers.
The controversial bill, which was introduced in March of this year, currently mandates that employers provide five days of sick time at firms with fewer than 20 employees, and nine days at firms with 20 or more employees – something detractors say would cripple businesses.
Just last week, a study conducted by the Partnership for New York City with data analysis and interpretation by Ernst & Young showed that the proposed bill would result in an overall increase of 0.3 percent in citywide private payroll costs, which amounts to $789 million a year.
“Simply put, this is the wrong time and incorrect manner to address this issue, as we are in a great recession and a one-size fits all mandate borne solely by business is unworkable in a city as diverse as this,” said Jack Friedman, Executive Vice President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, which represents 1,200 businesses and business organizations.
However, supporters of the bill, which include many councilmembers, parents and the powerful Working Families Party (WFP), believe this is a common sense measure that should be taken up immediately.
“Without a single paid sick day, many working parents are forced to choose between losing a day’s pay – or even their job – to care for their ill child or sending them to school where they can spread illness to students and teachers alike,” said Brooklyn Councilmember Gale Brewer, the lead sponsor of the Paid Sick Time Act.
More than 100 families and supporters of the bill, which included some business owners, recently rallied on the steps of City Hall to make their case for the legislation.
“This benefit is an investment in my employees and will be better for the health of my customers,” said Freddy Castiblanco, owner of Terraza Café in Elmhurst Queens. “As a father I also understand what it means when your child is sick, and I identify with employees who are also parents.”
Recently, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said that he does not support the bill as it is currently constituted, but supporters believe that they have enough support in the Council to override any potential Bloomberg veto.
Queens City Councilmember Dan Halloran said he encourages employers to offer paid leave to their employees, but this legislation is not the way to go about doing it.
“I don’t support ironclad mandates that burden the small business owners who hold our communities together and keep our economy moving forward,” Halloran said. “The vast majority of American employees have some form of sick leave as it is. Many other employees might opt for higher pay in lieu of paid sick leave. This act only serves to slow job creation.”
