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Paid Sick Leave Strikes Debate

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In some cities like San Francisco and Milwaukee, there are laws requiring most employers to provide workers with a limited number of paid sick-leave days. However, there are no laws in Texas or at the federal level that require private-sector employees to provide paid leave of any kind.

The New York Times reports that the United States is one of the very few wealthy nations in the world that doesn't mandate any form of paid sick leave; it is a country where 40 percent of the workers in the private sector don't receive paid leave from employers.

But with the passage of the Healthy Families Act, this can all change. This proposed piece of legislation would create a national standard when it comes to paid leave, guaranteeing employees one paid hour off for each 30 hours worked. This would allow employees to earn up to seven paid sick days each year. The law would be mandatory for employers with 15 or more workers.

The New York Times reported last Spring that certain business groups are hoping to block the legislation, arguing that such a law would raise costs among employers. The employers then may try to fill in the costs by giving workers lower wages. However, employment lawyers and labor unions have expressed support of the Healthy Families Act. The National Organization of Women (NOW), which has six chapters in the state of Texas, has voiced support for the bill. NOW's various Texas chapters are currently urging Representatives to move the bill to the floor. More information about the Healthy Families Act can be found on NOW's website. If you have any employment law questions, it is advisable to consult a Texas employment lawyer. For more general information, please visit our Related Resources links.

Related Resources:

  • Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Coming Soon? (FindLaw's Free Enterprise blog)
  • Providing Vacation and Sick Leave (FindLaw)
  • Texas Employment Lawyer Directory (FindLaw)

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