The latest legislation in California, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, October 4, expands the minimum number of paid sick days for workers from three to five per year.
Employees will be able to carry over more sick days into the next year according to the new rule, which takes effect in the new year. It is proof, Newsom said, that caring for the well-being of staff members "is of the utmost importance for California's future."
As per AP News, the Democratic governor signed the law along with more than a dozen others on Wednesday. All bills given to him this year must be signed by mid-October. He has the option of signing measures into law, vetoing them, or allowing it to take effect without his signature.
Favorable to Employees
In a press release, Newsom explained his decision, saying that too many people still have to decide between missing a day's pay and taking care of themselves or their families when they are sick.
Proponents of the sick day law claim it would help control the spread of infections and ensure employees can be productive at work. This is apart from the fact that it somehow eliminates workers from having to choose between taking a day off and being paid.
Sick leave legislation was endorsed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council. They are the ones who argued that the new measure would reduce the spread of potentially fatal infections.
Andrea Zinder, president of the group's Local 324 branch, "Five paid sick days is a step in the right direction and workers will be less likely forced to risk their livelihoods to do the right thing and stay home when they're sick because of this bill."
In the Perspective of Small Businesses
Meanwhile, the California Chamber of Commerce, which speaks for companies throughout the state, said this would be an undue hardship for local establishments.
The group's president, Jennifer Barrera, said in a statement that many small businesses would be forced to lay off workers, reduce wages, or increase prices to comply with the mandate because they could not afford it. This is especially true when considering all of California's other leaves and paid benefits.
In addition to efforts to increase the pay of healthcare employees and to enable legislative staffers to unionize, this bill was one of many key labor moves in Congress this year.
The minimum pay for fast food employees was just raised by a bill that Newsom signed. Nevertheless, a plan that would have provided jobless benefits to striking employees was rejected by him last weekend on the grounds that the state fund from which these benefits would be disbursed is roughly $20 billion in debt.
