Child-care issues move to political forefront as both parties position for midterms, By Zachary Goldfarb and Juliet Eilperin, June 23, 2014, Washington Post: “Paid leave and access to child care are surging to the top of the nation’s political debate as Democrats and Republicans seek to win votes and advance policies to address the economic struggles of families trying to raise children and hold jobs. A high-profile White House ‘working families’ summit Monday will focus on issues such as child care, paid family leave and equal pay between men and women. Politicians in both parties are also rolling out new work flexibility and child-care legislation amid predictions that such issues will be prominent in the 2014 midterm and 2016 presidential campaigns. Paid leave and child care are emerging as centerpiece issues for many Democrats, part of their broader attempt to portray Republicans as hostile to issues important to women. President Obama said last week . . .”
Tag: Sick leave
Sick Leave – California
Measure to require paid sick leave passes California Assembly, By Melanie Mason, May 29, 2014, Los Angeles Times: “A measure that would require employers to give employees at least three paid sick days a year cleared the Assembly on Thursday, overcoming fierce opposition from business groups. The bill, by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), would make employees eligible to accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers would be able to limit the use of that paid leave to three days per year. If signed into law, the measure would go into effect in July 2015. . .”
Paid Sick Leave – New York City
- Deal reached to force paid sick leave in New York City, By Michael Barbaro and Michael M. Grynbaum, March 28, 2013, New York Times: “New York City is poised to mandate that thousands of companies provide paid time off for sick employees, bolstering a national movement that has been resisted by wary business leaders. A legislative compromise reached on Thursday night represents a raw display of political muscle by a coalition of labor unions and liberal activists who overcame fierce objections from New York’s business-minded mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, and his allies in the corporate world. The deal required a high-profile concession from a leading candidate to succeed Mr. Bloomberg, Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker, who had single-handedly blocked action on the sick-leave issue for three years, arguing that it would inflict damage on the city’s fragile economy…”
- Sick-pay plan called blessing and burden, By Patrick McGeehan, March 29, 2013, New York Times: “The compromise reached on a sick-leave law for workers in New York City drew cheers on Friday from employees who have feared that catching a cold could cost them their jobs. But some employers complained that it would unfairly load yet another expense onto their shoulders. The agreement would eventually require most businesses with at least 20 employees to provide up to five days a year off with pay for illness. It also calls for even the smallest businesses, like the bodegas found on nearly every block, to let workers take days off without pay but without jeopardizing their jobs when they are too sick to work…”