In a nutshell, all I can say is: It's 2013, everyone should have at least some paid sick time. It seems inhumane to me.

Advocates for the City’s Paid Sick Leave Legislation rallied outside a City Council hearing on the matter today. They say it’s common sense legislation that will affect roughly one million New Yorkers. Those in favor of the bill said far too many low-wage workers are forced to choose between their health, or the health of a sick child, and their paycheck. One small business owner who offers paid sick days to his employees said he does it because it’s a good investment; he takes care of his workers, and in turn, his workers take care of his business. But small business owners and advocates on their behalf say the added expense would drive small businesses out of the City, or cause them to fail.

During today’s hearing, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. cited a recent report from the Community Service Society, which shows Latinos least likely of any racial or ethnic group to have access to paid time off. The study found nearly half – 47 percent – of Latinos in the City are denied paid sick leave. And, among working women, not even half – only 49 percent – of Latinas in the City can take a paid sick day.

The proposed legislation would force businesses with more than five employees to provide five paid sick days every year. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn has refused to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, saying today, “For me, it is not a question of if we need paid sick, it is when and how that will happen, and in this form and at this time, I cannot support it. But as today’s hearing indicates, I remain open to having conversation.” What do you say?

Do you support the paid sick leave legislation? Would you or someone you know be affected by this bill? As a consumer, would you be willing to pay more in a store so the employees who work there can receive paid sick time? What’s your reaction to the recent findings from the Community Service Society?

Send your thoughts using the e-mail link above.

Where in the Constitution is government authorized to coerce businesses to provide paid sick leave, minimum wages, health insurance and dozens of other things? These regulations are all violations of the rights of the businesses and obstructs their freedom to run their business as they please.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

The business owners are to be considered also about how they will have to pay for this increase in the minimum wage. The other concern is Obama Care.
Just as an example:

If there are 10 employees working in your company and whether they become just a co-worker, acquaintance or friend and the small business employer has to let one of his employees go because he can no longer afford to keep 10 employees if he raises the minimum wage and has to also pay whatever is asked of him the medical plan which is the Obama Care.

Keep in mind that if a company has 10 employees the owner might have to sacrifice dismissing 2 employees.

ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES MIGHT ALSO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION!

maxxiee
mp

CARMELITA..............................................HARLEM

OK, LET'S GET ORGANIZED PEOPLE. THIS ISSUE IS GOOD TO GO, AND HAVE THE GOOD REASONS TO SEEK POSTING A PERFORMANCE BOND. THIS WILL ALLOW ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO BE SECURE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO HAVE FINANCIAL COVERAGE DUE TO THE COURSE OF A NATURAL ACT. THIS WAY ITS A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR ALL. THE POSTING OF THE BOND WILL ALLEVIATE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES THAT COME WITH THE TERRITORY DURING ITS NATURAL STATE OF THINGS. FURTHERMORE, WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE FACED WITH WHATEVER COMES UP THAT WOULD PUT THEIR POSITION/CONDITION IN JEOPARDY, THE PERFORMANCE BOND POSTED BY THE EMPLOYER WILL TAKE THE LEAD TO SURE UP THE FIRMS FINANCES AND WILL PROTECT THE FIRM OUTRIGHT!!!

THIS WILL ALLOW THE EMPLOYEE TO SAFELY TAKE LEAVE AND THE FIRM CAN CONTINUE PAYING THE EMPLOYEE'S SALARY, WITH NO RESERVATIONS OR INCLUSION THAT WILL SUBSTITUTE OR AFFECT THEIR REGULAR VACATION LEAVE. THIS WILL PROVIDE THE PARTIES A WIN-WIN SITUATION.

AND BY THE BY, WHAT IS UP WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WOMEN GETTING ONE DAY A MONTH FOR THEIR REGULAR BODILY FUNCTIONS. AS FAR AS I KNEW, SINCE IN 1964 I WAS ADVISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FROM SOME TIME BEFORE UNIONS WERE INVENTED TO USE AND ABUSE THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE THAT FIRMS WERE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FEMALE EMPLOYEES.

THIS IS SHOW MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING!!!

COMMON SENSE TO THE RESCUE, PLEASE

CARMELITA, HARLEM

Just bring the bill to the floor and let the council members vote. It's called democracy.

Meryl from Manhattan

Chirs Quinn is chomping at the bit to assign an "Inspector General". She stated that she will do this by next week. The only reason Qunn is talking about an inspector is she is campaigning in certain neighborhoods. The law abiding citizens in these neighborhood are fully aware of her tactics.

On the other hand Quinn has been hijacking the city council to prevent a vote on paid sick leave. I am in total favor of paid sick for all employees. And I am willing to pay more for goods in order to allow sick workers to stay home.

P.S. Where's the slush fund Spkr. Quinn?

Kate
Midtown East

I’m tired of “small business owners” whining about decent wages and sick time. If your employees are paid so little that they qualify for government assistance, then the taxpayer is subsidizing your little game.

If you can’t afford to pay workers, you can’t have them! What about the other assets you need to run your “business”? Can you just tell your suppliers you can’t afford their price so they’ll just have to give you stuff for free?

Get a job, you weasels.

the sergeant majorette, East Harlem

It is unethical to not only make someone go to work sick, even if it is not contagious, but also unethical for someone to go to work sick, contagious or non-contagious. Paid sick days legislation is a No-Brainer.

Flora

Let small businesses be exempt. Make the big corporations and banks pay for sick days. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and employ more people than big business.

Alan

Quinn is so used to Bloomberg autocracy that she has no idea what democracy looks like anymore. Let the council vote. One person shouldn't be holding the bill hostage

Meryl from Chelsea

Paid sick leave. That is so 20th century. Go Christine Go. Profits before people.

Carl
Manhattan

Since the economy is rough on workers and employers how about unlimited sick days for everyone at half pay? Remember your employer has to replace you when your sick and pay them as well. Jimmy.

The Bronx.

The gentleman who claimed that immigrants are taking american jobs at much lower rates does have a point; most illegal immigrants receive medicaid , food stamps, day care, and many other free services.

Kate
Midtown East

What exactly is in the bill? Small business can't give sick leave immediately but after several months people should "earn" sick leave.
AND how about people who don't have insurance? can't afford to get a doctor's note.

Marlene

Mayor Bloomberg boasts that he is such an advocate for healthy "poor people". Instead of worrying about soft drinks he should help the working class in a way that will really help. Paid sick days!

Loraida

I like to know which illegal immigrants are getting medicaid and foodstamps, because the ones I know can't get any services. If so, where are they suppose to go to get these services since they obviously need legal documents to get them.

Erika

Government should not be in the business of dictating how business owners should run their companies - period! If the company chooses to offer paid sick days, so be it. If not, that is their choice. Employees have the choice to work there or try to find a job somewhere else.

No one is putting a gun to the head of potential employees to work for a company that does not provide paid sick days. (Of course law abiding people can't put a gun to someone's head in NYC, because the government has already decided that only criminals may own guns).

Don't make it a crime to "demand" paid anything. The only people benefiting from these issues are the lawyers - who probably don't get paid sick days, and probably don't care.

James
Rockaway Park, NY