The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
    • World
    • National
    • Politics
    • National Security
    • DC Area
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Investigations
    • Faith
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Headlines
    • Citizen Journalism
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Home & Living
  • Family & Kids
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Washington Visitors
  • Books
  • Military History
  • Life
  • Auto
  • TV Listings
  • Movie Listings
  • Death Notices
  • Entertainment
  • Commentary

    Suicide pact

  • World

    Italian arrests tied to '08 Mumbai attacks

  • Culture

    DESIGN: Exhibits traces decades-old fashion, fabric trends

  • Investigation

    Anglers serve time for black-market rockfish trade

  • World

    Islamic center in Maryland keeps ties to Iran

  • Politics

    ANALYSIS: Obama takes a bow, but applause is weak

  • Politics

    Republican governors: 'Opt out' unworkable

Home » Culture » Health

Monday, June 8, 2009

Mandating sick leave

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

Businesses dispute need for a federal remedy

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • Jack Hornady/The Washington Times

More Health Stories

  • Republican governors: 'Opt out' unworkable
  • Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  • Resistant swine flu cluster found in N.C.
  • Tamiflu-resistant swine flu cluster in N.C.

By Liz Essley THE WASHINGTON TIMES

If you're sick, stay home.

That has been the message from the government as it tries to cope with a potential swine flu pandemic.

But for 57 million Americans without paid sick leave, it's easier said than done. Catching the flu can mean having to choose between showing up for work or forfeiting pay.

So last week Connecticut tried — but failed — to be the first state in the nation to mandate that businesses provide paid sick leave. The bill passed the state's House of Representatives but came up one vote short in the Senate, even after a three-year-long battle to push it through.

The fight showed how difficult it may be for proponents to pass a similar law on the national level. The Healthy Families Act (HFA), legislation introduced in Congress last month by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat; Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, Connecticut Democrat; and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Democrat, will make its subcommittee debut Thursday.

Businesses are scrambling to oppose the federal legislation, saying that mandated sick leave will result in more wage and job cuts in an already turbulent economy.

Lisa Horn, manager of health care at the Society for Human Resource Management, said her organization opposes a "one-size-fits-all" government sick leave mandate because it forces businesses to make budget cuts in other areas.

"Employers are going to have to scale back on benefits that employees value," she said. "Overall, it limits an employer's flexibility."

James Sherk, a labor policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation, agreed.

"It's going to be a mandatory pay cut for every worker affected by it," he said.

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Please login or register to post a comment

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. Health bill could get 34-hour reading in Senate
  2. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  5. KELLNER: New Apple mouse really is 'Magic'
More Top Stories »
  1. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  2. 19 gang members face racketeering charges
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Taliban chief hides in Pakistan
  4. EXCLUSIVE: Hoffman considering recount claim
  5. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes

Most Shared

  1. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  2. Report: D.C. schools chief Rhee mishandled sexual misconduct scandal
  3. PRUDEN: Obama bows, the nation cringes
  4. Faint Shroud of Turin text proves artifact real, book says
  5. EDITORIAL: Chicago, Afghan-style
More Top Stories »
  1. Massive bill steals show in health care debate
  2. Socialist or vast expansion?
  3. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
  4. EDITORIAL: Gunning for Sarah Palin
  5. PRUDEN: The Third World and Obama

Most Commented

  1. Religious leaders vow civil disobedience on anti-life issues
  2. PRUDEN: The Third World and Obama
  3. Army lacks guidelines to deal with jihadists in ranks
  4. Work site arrests of illegals fall dramatically
  5. Senate health care bill creates new marriage penalty
More Top Stories »
  1. Dems up pressure on health bill's holdouts
  2. EDITORIAL: Get ready to bomb Iran
  3. EXCLUSIVE: Taliban chief hides in Pakistan
  4. Obama's approval rating falls below 50%
  5. Unforeseen climate 'crisis'

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Question of the day

Do you think Pakistan has done enough to help us find the terrorists who want to hurt the U.S.?

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Rookie Williams hurts ankle

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.