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Connecticut Could Be First State to Mandate Paid Sick Leave


The much buzzed about Senate Bill 913, introduced by the Labor and Public Employees Committee, would require businesses that employ fifty or more to allow employees to take paid time off to recuperate from an illness or to care for a sick child.  The bill would allow permanent full-time and part-time employees to accrue paid sick leave after three months on the job at the rate of one hour of leave for every forty hours worked.  Violations of the Act would subject the employer to a $600 fine per violation. 

Of note, Governor Malloy has indicated his support for the bill and has stated that he will sign the Act if it reaches his desk.  Supporters argue that requiring business to provide paid time off to employees is a matter of fairness.  Those who oppose the bill, however, argue that employers will be forced to cover the extra cost by reducing benefits, cutting hours or eliminating jobs.  The Connecticut Business and Industry Association is among those aggressively opposing its passage.

The bill is scheduled to go before the Senate, where it is expected to pass.  If the bill passes and is signed into law, Connecticut would be the first state in the nation to mandate paid sick leave—once again affirming its reputation as an expensive state to do business in.