08/04/2008
CONTACT: Michelle Orrock, 916-448-9904
SACREMENTO, Calif. -- John Kabateck, executive director for the National Federation of Independent Business/California, released the following statement regarding AB 2716, which would mandate paid sick leave for all employees in California:
"Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee will be holding a hearing on Assembly Bill 2716. If this bill becomes law, it will impose a costly mandate on small businesses statewide and will have a devastating impact on precious California jobs and an already fragile economy.
"We all agree that sick leave is a good thing for employees as well as employers. But, because this bill mandates a one-size-fits-all approach, it is the wrong bill and certainly the wrong time. Removing the needed flexibility that is currently in place is going to force employers to make up these costs in other ways, with lower wages or higher costs for goods and services. During a time when California's unemployment rate continues to skyrocket, the last thing small businesses need now is one more costly mandate that will leave hundreds of thousands of working Californians jobless.
"On behalf of small business owners statewide, we urge our legislative leaders to reject this costly mandate and vote 'no' on AB 2716."
The NFIB Research Foundation recently conducted a survey which revealed that if AB 2716 becomes law, nearly 370,000 jobs will be lost statewide.
