One Wisconsin Now

Paid Sick Days Milwaukee

By Cory @ One Wisconsin Now - Jun 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: Corporate Watch | Wisconsin Women Matter

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Categories: Corporate Accountability , Economic Fairness, Jobs and Economy, Women's Issues, Labor, One Wisconsin Now - The "tOWN Hall"

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Today Paid Sick Days Milwaukee, a coalition of labor, educational and community organizations, delivered over 42,000 signatures to the Milwaukee Common Council. The effort was lead by 9 to 5, National Association of Working Women. They are asking the council to pass a requirement that all businesses in Milwaukee provide employees with paid sick day benefits. The council can either vote on it themselves or they could put the measure on the November ballot.

The proposed ordinance would require all private businesses in Milwaukee to give their workers one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Full-time employees for a large business would earn 72 hours a year. Smaller businesses (with 10 or fewer employees) would only be required to provide 40 hours a year in paid sick days. The days could be taken for illness, medical care for the worker, for their children, parents or any other person related to the worker.

Supporters stood behind key speakers in the Monday press conference in the Milwaukee City Hall’s rotunda. Representatives from the faith community, labor, the teaching profession, a doctor and others spoke at the press conference in support of a paid sick day ordinance. Each shared about, how from their unique perspectives, that giving all workers these benefits was just the right thing to do. Some told stories of sick kids not being able to go home because parents could not leave work, while others talked about it as an issue of public health and fairness.

Powerful business interests will likely protest the passage of the Paid Sick Days Milwaukee proposal. As with everything in the area of labor standards, large corporations often predict dire consequences. Even though they run this same drill every time, their predictions are often forgotten because they are so often wrong and rarely come to pass. A statement from Legacy Bank was read during the press conference which made the case that having paid sick days is good business and creates a much better and more manageable environment for both employers and their workers. When the press conference was over, a group of children lead a procession to the Common Council’s office with several boxes of petitions.

Reader Comments

Forced paid sick days a joke

By Dean Jul 15th 2008 at 9:59 pm EDT

The idea of private business forced to pay for up to nine sick days per year is a joke. Mindless liberals once again don't get it. I am a business owner in Milwaukee. If this is forced upon my company, guess what? My employees vacation time will be cut, and the overall hours of my employees will be cut to compensate for this added expense. Most businesses are in a competitive environment. I pay the going rate and offer sick leave and benefits for employees that work in my field. I would not be able to afford to absorb the added expense without making cuts elsewhere. Anyone who thinks this is going to ultimately benefit employees in Milwaukee is sadly mistaken. Typical liberal idea: Think with emotion and not with objectivity. This just gives another reason not to do business in Milwaukee. If this goes through, I may move my business out of Milwaukee and then all of my employees lose their jobs. Is that what you want? Leave it to the business owners to run their business, not the employees or the government who doesn't know the first thing about how my business runs. Employees always want more from the employers. They see I drive a nice car and live in a nice home and somehow think they deserve that too? Maybe someday when they own their own business and are on the hook for millions of dollars of leases, rent payroll taxes, etc they can have a nice car too. I am the one who bears all of the risk in my business. My employees punch a clock and they are done. They don't have to worry about how they will come up with over $100 thousand dollars per month in expenses. This is a poor plan that will drive even more business out of Milwaukee.

Re: Forced paid sick days a joke

By Who Cares Oct 15th 2008 at 1:06 pm EDT (Updated Oct 15th 2008 at 1:06 pm EDT)

Yeah well maybe some of you Owners will get your head outta your A^(&$%&S! And give us workers what we have coming to us. All companies should have to supply some sick time to their employees. It's the logical thing. When you have a group of employees who frequent each other on a regular basis someone is boud to get sick. Let's keep them working so they can get others sick. Boy that's good for biz. It's money hungry owner's like yourself that is driving our economy down!
Thanks

Re: Forced paid sick days a joke

By Nolongercares Nov 5th 2008 at 5:21 am EST (Updated Nov 5th 2008 at 5:21 am EST)

What makes a person think that being 'a worker' for a company or business entitles them to anything other than what they were told when they applied? Did you get dragged in by your hair and forced into your job? Or are you a worthless lay about who thinks they are owed a pay check? This mindset is what liberals have infused into young workers and it simply keeps them down by creating a self worth that isn't worked for. You are worth what you can bring to the company period. You work harder, do more, you get paid more. It's that easy. Start your own business, get a better job, don't expect the government to give you what you need. Then again, with all of the marxist pap being slung around this election, I suspect more of this entitlement mentality will prevail - especially in the next 4 years. Just remember this, your employer can move to a cheaper city or most likely cheaper state. Then you'll have all the sick days you want.

Re: Forced paid sick days a joke

By Dontcareanymore Nov 5th 2008 at 5:23 am EST (Updated Nov 5th 2008 at 5:23 am EST)

I agree. I think the flight of companies from Milwaukee will be huge and from the country for the next four years will be astronomical thanks to liberal idiocy like this.

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