The debate over a measure (AB 2716) that would require California businesses to provide paid sick leave to workers is heating up in advance of a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee next week, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The bill, by Assembly member Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), would require firms to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours that employees work. Businesses with no more than 10 employees would have to offer no more than five paid sick days, while all other businesses would be required to provide at least nine paid sick days.
The measure is based on a San Francisco law.
Supporters' Study
Backers of paid sick leave released a report on Wednesday indicating that as many as 5.4 million California workers do not receive paid sick leave.
The report found that:
- Higher-paid workers are more likely to receive paid sick leave benefits than lower-paid workers;
- Workers who describe themselves as healthy are more likely to receive paid sick leave than workers who consider their health to be fair or poor;
- 38% of California workers with heart disease have no paid sick leave; and
- 41% of California workers with diabetes do not receive paid sick leave benefits.
Human Impact Partners prepared the report, using data from existing health surveys. A Unitarian Universalist group funded the report (DeBare,
San Francisco Chronicle, 7/31).
Broadcast Coverage
On Thursday, American Public Media's "Marketplace Morning Report" included a segment on the bill (Milne-Tyte, "Marketplace Morning Report," American Public Media, 7/31).