Study says Sick Day Mandate Would Cost Ohio 75,000 Jobs

A new study shows Ohio could lose up to 75,000 jobs over the next five years if voters approve a ballot issue that would give most full-time workers seven paid sick days a year. The sick day mandate is a part of the new Healthy Families Act. The study was released by the National Federation of Independent Business in Ohio. According to the group nearly 20-percent of the job losses would be in businesses that employ one to 20 employees, even though they wouldn't be required to offer the sick days. They say the proposal would actually force larger business to layoff workers which would in turn affect small business suppliers. Organized labor, a strong supporter of the group, is trying to get enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot. Advocates against the proposal have been trying to reach a compromise that would keep the plan of the ballot, but so far they've been unsuccessful. Most large businesses in Ohio say they offer their employees paid vacation along with childbirth and bereavement leave, but no paid sick time. Employers say that would be cost prohibitive. Supporters of the plan say nearly 2 million Ohio workers don't get paid time off when they or their family members are sick. In addition to the job loss the plan could cost employers up to $1.7 billion in added bookkeeping and management costs.

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YouTube | August 20, 2008

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