Report Says 39% Across US Lack Paid Sick Days
According to a report from the pro-labor group National Partnership for Women and Families, about 934,000 private-sector workers across Arizona, or nearly 50%, don’t receive paid sick days. Nationwide, the report found 39% of private-sector workers lack paid sick days. The Arizona Republic reported that currently Arizona doesn’t have a mandate requiring that employers provide employees with such benefits, and the latest report said 45% of the state’s workers don’t have them. The Republic noted that across the US, 20 local jurisdictions and four states have laws mandating paid sick leave for private-sector workers. Last week, Congressional Democrats launched a nationwide effort on the issue, headed by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), who introduced legislation in the Senate on paid sick leave.
What Happens Next
This past legislative session, Arizona Rep. Richard Andrade (D-Phoenix) sponsored legislation to mandate “a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours and employee worked.” Though that bill died in committee, Andrade is planning to reintroduce it once lawmakers reconvene for the 2016 session, meaning the issue is unlikely to go away in the near future.
What This Means For Small Businesses
Small business owners are facing mounting pressure to increase wages and benefits, including paid sick leave. If efforts by pro-labor groups like the National Partnership for Women and Families are successful, business owners across Arizona would face significant increases in labor costs that could drive up costs for consumers, or force such businesses to cut staff or relocate to more business-friendly areas. As the Republic quoted Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Garrick Taylor as saying, “Leave policies are best handled between employers and employees.”
Additional Reading
NFIB recently noted new paid sick leave regulations in Massachusetts.
Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.
