Bill to provide workers more sick time clears first hurdle

Legislation that would require more employers to provide their workers with paid sick time cleared its first hurdle in the Minnesota House today.

The Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act establishes a minimum standard of one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. DFL Representative John Lesch of St. Paul, the bill's sponsor, said 41 percent of the state's workforce doesn't get paid sick days.

Patty Tanji, president-elect of Business and Professional Women-Minnesota, told members of the House Labor and Consumer Protection Division that the bill would benefit companies.

"With paid sick days, we support our employees by encouraging them to stay away from the workplace when they're ill," Tanji said. "With paid sick days we support our employees by giving them the freedom to stay home with sick kids or parents so they don't bring their anxieties to work. And paid sick days support our employees who feel demoralized for having to choose between a family and a pay check."

Representative of several business groups testified against the bill. They say it would add costs to employers at a time when they'll already struggling to pay the bills.

Buzz Anderson of the Minnesota Retailers Association said many small employers are struggling to survive and cannot afford another expense.

"Employers will expect to see more absenteeism," Anderson said. "That's a cost to business. With more cost to business, that means less investments in expansions. Less ability to provide benefits like health care, vision, dental and other benefits that they're already struggling to give employees."

The bill now goes to the House Commerce and Labor Committee.