The bill doesn't mandate hand-washing or forbid sneezing in public, but it would require all employees, regardless of hours worked, to be eligible for sick time paid by the employer.
Here's the crux of the bill:
LD 1665 wrote:
2. Accrual of hours; amount; process. All employees have the right to paid sick leave as provided in this section.
A. A large business employer shall provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked by an employee. The employer is not required to provide more than 52 hours paid sick leave in a calendar year. The employer shall allow an employee to carry over up to 52 hours paid sick leave to a subsequent calendar year, to the extent that they were not used by the employee.
B. A small business employer shall provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 80 hours worked by an employee. The employer is not required to provide more than 26 hours paid sick leave in a calendar year. The employer shall allow an employee to carry over up to 26 hours paid sick leave to a subsequent calendar year, to the extent that they were not used by the employee.
C. An employer shall allow an employee to accrue paid sick leave beginning on the first day of employment. An employee may use accrued paid sick leave beginning on the 90th day after the employee's first day of employment, unless the employer agrees to an earlier date.
D. For a period of paid sick leave that is shorter than a normal work day, leave must be counted on an hourly basis or in the smallest increment that the employer's payroll system uses to account for absences or use of leave.
A. A large business employer shall provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked by an employee. The employer is not required to provide more than 52 hours paid sick leave in a calendar year. The employer shall allow an employee to carry over up to 52 hours paid sick leave to a subsequent calendar year, to the extent that they were not used by the employee.
B. A small business employer shall provide a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 80 hours worked by an employee. The employer is not required to provide more than 26 hours paid sick leave in a calendar year. The employer shall allow an employee to carry over up to 26 hours paid sick leave to a subsequent calendar year, to the extent that they were not used by the employee.
C. An employer shall allow an employee to accrue paid sick leave beginning on the first day of employment. An employee may use accrued paid sick leave beginning on the 90th day after the employee's first day of employment, unless the employer agrees to an earlier date.
D. For a period of paid sick leave that is shorter than a normal work day, leave must be counted on an hourly basis or in the smallest increment that the employer's payroll system uses to account for absences or use of leave.
Currently no other states require employers to pay sick time to ALL employees.
Would this bill, if passed, curtail the spread of H1N1?
If it did pass and the threat of H1N1 was eliminated, should the law then be rescinded?
Downeast political shenanigans?