Small Biz Opposes Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

The Colorado Republican Business Coalition (CRBC) opposes HB09-1210, which would require companies to give paid sick leave of up to 40 hours a year in companies with six to 15 employees and up to 72 hours a year in companies with 16 or more employees. Key objections include:

• Small business can rarely compete with the benefits offered by larger companies. Requiring mandatory paid sick leave reduces a competitive advantage for small businesses that typically offer flexibility in the work place as an incentive to good employees.
• The carry-over provision of allowing paid sick leave to accrue for an indefinite time creates a property right for employees who could demand payment upon severance with the company.
• There is no time limit on the carry-over provision. Feasibly, an employee could accrue as much as a month or more of time off, couple that with vacation leave, and be on a paid leave for months. This is a big problem for a small business that relies on a stable workforce.
• It increases record-keeping and overall expenses to small business, thereby increasing costs to consumers without additional profit, which decreases the financial ability to create jobs.
• Because the language of the Bill is quite broad, it encourages absenteeism as employees take days off for “mental health”.

Once again, the Legislature is offering a solution in search of a problem. Most employers provide benefits and give time off to keep good employees. It is not the role of government to prescribe the relationship between employers and employees. Most new jobs are created by small businesses. In these tough economic times, with unemployment ballooning, forcing punitive legislation such as HB1210 only serves as a disincentive to hire those who may appear less than perfectly healthy or have a history of family health issues.

HB1210 is scheduled to be heard in House Business Affairs & Labor Committee on Wed. Feb. 18. Contact the Committee members and tell them your view of HB1210. Tell them you heard about it from CRBC.

Bill Sponsor: Rep. Ann McGihon 303-866-2921 anne.mcgihon.house@state.co.us
Chairman Joe Rice (D) (D-38 Arap/Jeffco) 303.866.2953 joe.rice.house@state.co.us
Vice Chairman David Balmer (R-39 Arapahoe) 303.866.2935 david.balmer.house@state.co.us
Rep. Laura Bradford (R-55 Mesa) 303.866.2583 laurabradford55@gmail.com
Rep. Sara Gagliardi (D-27 Jefferson) 303.866.2962 sara.gagliardi.house@state.co.us
Rep. Larry Liston (R-16 El Paso) 303.866.2965 larry.liston.house@state.co.us
Rep. Kevin Priola ((R-30 Adams) 303.866.2912 kpriola@gmail.com
Rep. Su Ryden (D-36 Arapahoe) 303.866.2942 mailto:su.ryden.house@state.co.us
Rep. Christine Scanlan (D-56 Eagle/Lake/Summit) 303.866.2952 christine.scanlan.house@state.co.us
Rep. John Soper (D-34 Adams) 303.866.2931 john.soper.house@state.co.us
Rep. Amy Stephens (R-20 El Paso) 303.866.2924 amy.stephens.house@state.co.us


The Colorado Republican Business Coalition was founded in 1992. CRBC tracks legislation affecting taxes, property rights, transportation, energy and health care for the 300+ small business owners and managers members and 2000+ others interested in protecting free enterprise.

Link: http://www.smallbusinessrepublicans.com/issues/HB09-1210-SickLeave.htm