Red Tape Alert: Paid Sick Leave Mandate Scheduled For House Committee

Paid sick leave legislation (HB 3665) is expected to be heard in the House Labor Committee on Thursday. The bill is identical to legislation we have fought in the past, requiring ALL employers to offer seven days of paid sick leave to both full and part-time employees.

Under the legislation, employees begin to accrue time off immediately, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked. Time off could be taken if the employee is ill, or for the illness of their child, spouse or a person who has lived in their home for at least 6 months. A note is not required from a doctor until the thirrd day of time off.

The sponsor of the bill, state Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez has said she wants to pursue the bill given the outbreak of the H1N1 virus.

No state has passed a paid sick leave bill, however the cities of San Francisco and Washington, D.C. have both passed local laws. Similar legislation is pending in about 14 other states and in Congress.

We are adamantly opposed to a paid sick leave mandate. A 2008 NFIB/Illinois Member Ballot, 93% of respondents opposed a paid sick leave mandate. Please call your lawmaker today and tell them you oppose a paid sick leave mandate.