New Mandated Paid Sick Leave Bill Introduced in the House

This week, the Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.), introduced a bill to provide five days of paid sick leave to employees that have symptoms of a contagious illness or have been in close contact with someone who has the symptoms.  The Emergency Influenza Containment Act is a direct result of the H1N1 virus, but the language of the bill is so broad that any contagious illness could be covered.  Employers who direct an employee to leave work or to not come into work would have to provide up to 5 days of paid sick leave over a 12 month period.  This legislation would apply to all employers with 15 or more employees.  This legislation is different than another bill, The Healthy Families Act, which would require employers with 15 or more employees to allow employees to earn 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.  AGC is opposed to The Healthy Families Act because it requires a one-size-fits-all paid sick leave package of 56 hours and limits an employers' flexibility in creating a benefits package that would meet the needs of the construction industry's unique workforce.  Congressman Miller has indicated that he wants to have a hearing and pass the Influenza Act sometime this month.  As of now, AGC expects these two mandatory paid sick leave bills to remain separate.  AGC will continue to report on movement on either bill.