Congress is at it again, using the excuse of the swine flu to mandate paid sick leave. This time the pig’s nose is under the tent.
Last week the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on a proposal, H.R. 3991, the Emergency Influenza Containment Act. If passed, this bill would require employers with as few as 15 employees to provide five days of paid sick leave per 12 month period to all full or part time workers who are sent home by their employer or directed to stay home by their employer because of contagious illness such as the H1N1 virus. The Senate also held a hearing on the issue.
It is pretty clear that some in Congress are using the excuse of the swine flu to push through more mandates on our businesses.
There is no doubt that our small businesses want to ensure their workplaces remain safe and healthy during the flu season and beyond. Most small businesses are already used to developing contingency plans and flexible schedules so the work can continue when people are out with the flu, taking care of a family member or simply on vacation.
This legislation fails to give employers and employees the freedom to negotiate, with each other, the benefit structure that works best for the employee, the employee’s family needs and the company. A one size government fits all mandate is not the answer.
New mandates bring new costs in the way of more paperwork and regulations, all at a time when our small businesses can least afford it. Unemployment is hovering at 10.2 percent and we need our small businesses to help us out of this economic recession.
Mandated sick leave is not a cure for what ails our small businesses. A better solution is to look for policies that empower the employer and the employee. What do you think?
from: http://terry-neese-blog.com/mandates-make-small-business-owners-sick/
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