STATE HOUSE
Business groups remain opposed to pared-down paid-sick-days bill
By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer
AUGUSTA -- The Labor Committee on Monday reviewed a scaled-back version of a bill to require some Maine employers to provide paid sick days to employees.
Even as amended, the bill continues to draw strong opposition from the business community.
The committee is considering L.D. 1665, "An Act to Prevent the Spread of H1N1," sponsored by Senate President Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro. A vote by the committee is expected Thursday.
The original bill called for all Maine employers to provide paid sick days but an amendment presented Monday changes that requirement to businesses with 50 or more workers.
Under the bill, employees would be able to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 80 hours worked, up to 26 hours a year.
Paid sick leave would not begin accruing until after an employee had worked at least 180 days. The time could be used as a sick day taken by an employee or to care for a relative. It could also be used to obtain social or legal services if an employee is a victim of stalking, domestic violence or sexual abuse.
Sarah Standiford, executive director of the Maine Women's Lobby, which has advocated strongly for the bill, said an estimated 137,000 Maine workers who now have no paid sick time would benefit from the amended bill.
She said critics who say the economy is too fragile to put a new requirement on businesses aren't looking at the whole picture. Many workers in Maine fear they will lose a job if they stay home sick, she said.
"It's exactly because of the hard times that we need to make sure people are able to keep their employment," she said.
Yet the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Businesses of Maine say they still oppose the measure.
"We would be the only state in the country to require this burden," said Peter Gore of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "You are creating, forever, a new fixed cost that will drop to the bottom line."
David Clough of NFIB Maine said that, by scaling back the bill, supporters only changed the starting point for coverage. "I expect in the future they will move the starting point toward one employee," he said.
Legislators on the Labor Committee appeared split on the bill, with most Democrats supporting it and most Republicans opposing it.
Some said the amendment made the measure more palatable.
"I expressed concern as it related to small employers," said Rep. Paul Gilbert, D-Jay. "I appreciate the amendment to have that level at 50 now."
Rep. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden, said the bill will have consequences and that the committee needs to think about people who want to start a new business in Maine.
"It's an insult to some of them to say they don't care about employees and that they make their workers come to work sick," he said.
The committee delayed a vote until Thursday after other questions came up from members, such as whether the state Department of Labor supports the bill and how Gov. John Baldacci feels about it.
Baldacci's Deputy Chief of Staff David Farmer said Baldacci had concerns with the original bill and the possibility of putting "new requirements on businesses in a fragile economy."
Baldacci had not reviewed the amendment as of Monday afternoon, Farmer said.
Rep. Steven Butterfield, D-Bangor, said he's tired of what he called "a constant drumbeat" from lobbyists who characterize the bill as anti-business.
"What I'm burdened and frustrated by is that, in this day and age, people have to make a choice between staying home when they are sick, or losing a job," he said.
Susan Cover -- 620-7015
scover@centralmaine.com
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29 COMMENTS
Ripple said...
once again,the Dems are pushing Maine's anti business sentiment. Led by Mitchell, the message is out that if you are considering doing business in Maine, expect the Legislature to regulate your business decisions to death.
March 9, 2010 at 7:37 AM Report abuse
TWFkbWVuMQ%3D%3D said...
Why would anyone work for a company that does not offer sick/vaca time?
March 9, 2010 at 7:44 AM Report abuse
stopthismess said...
It's a simple "bill" to get around. Say for instance you own a group of large greenhouses and have 150 employees. You simply make it 3 separate businesses. One for veggies one for flowers and one for whatever your product is. Each business must have its own corp papers etc but even after paying those fees you will make out better than giving away all that sick time to every employee. Believe me they understand. Many employees think it is just wrong for the state to get in the middle of small business.
March 9, 2010 at 7:46 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
For of you that don't know you can be fired for being out sick an nothing you can do about it i call the state labor dept an the labor lawyer told me that.
March 9, 2010 at 8:04 AM Report abuse
Merrigan said...
This is totally idiotic and proof Mitchell should not be governor. And "The Maine Women's Lobby" should change its name--it does not represent Maine women--it represents a few Democratic professional women connected to Augusta.
March 9, 2010 at 8:15 AM Report abuse
dude said...
i would suggest a sick day fund , employees could opt to pay in to each week , with a max of 5 paid sick days per year. if the employee does,nt use them than the sick time should carry over to the next year.all money in the fund should be tax exempt .
March 9, 2010 at 8:27 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
Maybe libby mitchell and the state of Maine would just like to "take" the businesses in Maine and run them their way! A note to Maine democrats...GET YOUR NOSES OUT OF MAINE BUSINESSES! We already have seen your business sense with wine tasting and taxes! LEAVE MAINE BUSINESSES ALONE!
March 9, 2010 at 8:47 AM Report abuse
Blackacre said...
From my perspective as a happy tax exile in Florida, the thinking behind this bill is just another example of Maine's continuing anti-business climate which deters investment in the jobs Maine needs. To the comment of TWF etc., I respond that a small business which cannot afford providing free sick time - and health insurance - to its employees will soon be out of business.
March 9, 2010 at 9:16 AM Report abuse
HelpMaine said...
So if a business has a union workforce that has negotiated time off with pay but does not call it sick time, will it be required to give away additional paid time off specifically called "sick time"? I thought that these issues is what the bargaining table was for.
March 9, 2010 at 9:18 AM Report abuse
usedtolivein said...
If you get fired for being sick, there is more to it than you just being sick. Maybe your employer is sick of you and just waiting for a reason to get rid of you. Try working harder, show up on time, etc. Another stupid bill to chase businesses away. Another intrusion of government in our every day lives. When will it ever stop? How about November for starters.
March 9, 2010 at 9:22 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
They don't need a reason to fire you Maine is a at will employer. Thats the reason they fired you because you were out sick.
March 9, 2010 at 9:30 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
You have a business an you have just enough people to do the job an if someone goes home sick or does not come in because they are sick that puts more work on the others that are there an they are right out strigh as it is an thats puts them behine an they can't severe there costermers. What would you do? Do you want a sick person handling your food or take your orders ? You ask them why they are not home they tell you we have been told if we go home or don't show up we will be fired an yes it can happen.
March 9, 2010 at 9:50 AM Report abuse
Govt2Big said...
Hey wollydevil, are you still working for SEIU?
March 9, 2010 at 9:52 AM Report abuse
Govt2Big said...
If you don’t agree with this potential job-killer for Maine’s business environment, please contact the Labor Committee Members before Thursday’s vote. For your convenience, you will find all of their contact details posted at “Legislature to consider mandatory sick leave” at http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/legislature-consider-mandatory-sick-leave?page=2 We need to defeat this terrible legislation.
March 9, 2010 at 10:03 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
Govt2big im retire for over a year an ive never worked for SEIU an yes a person was fired for being out sick an he even had a DR. note. I was in a chinese place when the owner right in front of me fired the person because he need a person right than an there he could not whate till he came back. So don't say it can't happen.
March 9, 2010 at 10:07 AM Report abuse
Franklee said...
Maybe if some of you could actually read and research a little bit on your own, and not just borrow from the standardized modern day, Republican response of 'Another anti-business move in Augusta", then you would see that this does not apply to businesses with less than 50 employees. I'm sorry but if you are a business in Maine that employs more than 50 people and you do NOT provide 3 days of sick time a year, please leave Maine. This is SO MUCH CHEAPER than requiring health insurance. The citizens of Maine are more important than the businesses. Guarantee most posters have never even owned a friggin business...
March 9, 2010 at 10:10 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
Govt2Big are you running for Governor because you seam to have all the answers to our problems. You can solve all out problems an know how to stream line all government an get everything thing done three times as fast.
March 9, 2010 at 10:13 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
wollydevil...All of your "problems" are created by the socialist democrats that you elected!
March 9, 2010 at 10:35 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
Piece by piece we move closer to government socialism!
March 9, 2010 at 10:50 AM Report abuse
wollydevil said...
Proconerv Why don't you run for office in Augusta than than we will see who pays you off for there vote? You can move into the deep woods no radio,paper ect than you can live the perfect life. Move to a more perfect state if you can find one ?
March 9, 2010 at 10:52 AM Report abuse
JTC said...
There was a HUGE confusion at the work session regarding when paid sick leave begins accruing. The reporter got it wrong! The article says "paid sick leave would not begin accruing until after an employee had worked at least 180 days." The bill says accrual begins on the 180th calendar day "of employment." It says NOTHING about actual work days, only days of employment. You don't have to have "worked" for 180 days; you have to have been "employed" for 180 days.
March 9, 2010 at 11:28 AM Report abuse
TJ said...
The 50 employee standard is just another red herring from our liberal elites in Augusta. If there is one thing our legislators understand its incrementalism. Get something accepted at one level, and then slowly chip away until we have full implementation of the original intent.
March 9, 2010 at 11:36 AM Report abuse
ProConserv said...
wollydevil...At some point in the future I just might run for a public office! I do consider it often! Thanks for your vote of support!
March 9, 2010 at 11:39 AM Report abuse
Krog said...
ProConserv, I doubt it. That would take commitment on your part.
March 9, 2010 at 12:49 PM Report abuse
bXBhcmVudA%3D%3D said...
I don't care if there's a stipulation of businesses with "over 50 employees" or not. Keep your nose out of businesses. It's ridiculous that the state house feels like they have to nitpick every little thing a business does these days. Give me a break!
March 9, 2010 at 2:23 PM Report abuse
livefreedie said...
Most employers will not fire a good employee if they take time off sick. Retraining a new employee is much less cost effective than simply allowing the sick employee to stay home unpaid. If an employer is enough of an a** that he would fire a good employee for taking a necesary day of unpaid sick leave, who would want to work for that employer even if the state forced him to pay for sick leave? Worker pay and benefits are what motivate people to get off their butts and get training that will prepare them to be able to leave a job with poor pay and benefits to find a job with good pay and benefits. We all know lazy people who are sucky employees. If there aren't any crappy jobs left where are they going to work? When you end up with an idiot for a coworker, thank your legislature for creating "equality for all."
March 9, 2010 at 2:27 PM Report abuse
heyrube said...
American labor isn't getting its full share of the nation's output. Much of that lost compensation went to business and its owners. Last year, for example, businesses raised workers' hourly pay a little (2.2 percent) but cut their hours a lot (5.1 percent). The result? The remaining workforce became considerably more productive, creating more goods and services per hour worked. Ideally, business and labor would share about equally in productivity gains. Over the past three decades, though, business has reaped the bigger share.
March 9, 2010 at 5:48 PM Report abuse
livefreedie said...
HeyRube, I agree that equitable rate's of increased profit between employer and employee is a desirable and noble goal. The question though, is whether government or free market should be driving this change. I believe the free market should.
March 9, 2010 at 8:17 PM Report abuse
Chris said...
Libby Mitchell, the bill sponsor, seems totally out of touch with our business environment to introduce another state mandate.
March 9, 2010 at 10:30 PM Report abuse