MARYLAND LAWMAKERS PUSHING SMALL BUSINESS TO THE BRINK
ANNAPOLIS (March 23, 2015): Today the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is questioning just how much law makers think small businesses in Maryland can take as they are faced with the potential for yet another policy detrimental to the day to day operation of their businesses. Last week, the Senate held a hearing on a bill that would put restrictions on how all employers in the state of Maryland handle scheduling employees, regardless of the size of the business or the number of people they employ.
“It has become clear to NFIB that between predictive scheduling, paid leave, the Fair Employment Preservation Act and increasing the minimum wage, there is an assault on small businesses across the state.” Said NFIB Maryland State Director, Jessica Cooper. “Unfunded mandates are killing Main Street businesses and making it impossible to keep reliable, responsible staff.”
The bill, which was heard in the Assembly earlier this month, would requires 21 day advanced written notice of an employee’s work schedule as well as “Predictability Pay” that will act as compensation for any scheduling changes made within the 21 day window. If an employer were to call an employee to work unexpectedly, they would be mandated to pay the employee for the schedule change.
“Small business owners cannot anticipate their needs 21 days in advance, especially those in industries like restaurants and construction that staff as projects are picked up and events are planned.” Continued Cooper, “Lawmakers need to understand that small employers already provide their employees with mutually beneficial scheduling arrangements that allow for consistency and reliability for both the worker and owner. Small business owners care about their staff. It is time to stop assuming that employees are somehow being oppressed by business owners. Annapolis should focus on ways to make it easier for our employers to create jobs, not mandate that they pay more for jobs.”