After weeks of fighting, the paid leave bill is headed to Gov. Hogan’s desk, where it faces a promised veto. However, in return, Democratic lawmakers have promised to override his veto at the beginning of the 2018 session, according to the Maryland Reporter.
If made law, the legislation will require employers with 15 or more workers to provide 40 hours of paid sick leave each year. Part-time workers logging at least 12 hours per week would also be eligible for paid leave. Companies that already offer five days of paid leave for vacation or sick days will be considered compliant.
“Since the beginning of this session, the small business community has fought tirelessly against this mandatory paid leave in the state of Maryland,” said NFIB/MD State Director Mike O’Halloran. “As it stands, if implemented, this bill would cost thousands of jobs, a majority of which would disappear from small businesses.
“Despite our ardent opposition to the concept of the government mandating employee benefits, more than a dozen reasonable and responsible amendments were offered to lawmakers to help Maryland small businesses mitigate the impact of this mandate. Unfortunately, although these changes were supported in a bipartisan manner, the Legislature chose not to listen to the pleas from Maryland’s job creators.”
