Mandatory paid sick leave – bad or good for business?
Lawmakers in Salem have introduced a bill that would make paid sick leave mandatory for businesses of all sizes in Oregon. It’s a topic that has many people talking about the potential impacts, good or bad.
“I think it’s a great thing,” said one Bend resident.
Another person said: “I think it’s awesome. It pushes us forward.”
For some small business owners it’s another financial burden.
“I probably would have had to close my doors,” said a Bend resident and former small business owner. “I know that a lot of the smaller businesses would feel the same way. I know a lot of them had to close.”
Even among small businesses, opinions vary. Patrice Domingo, manager at The Cutest Store Ever, in Bend, said not much would change for their business if the bill passes.
“We already have seven days a year that we have sick days right now,” said Domingo.
Powder House, in Bend, currently does not offer paid sick days, but they have other ways of helping their employees.
“They’ve got to pay the mortgage and put food on the table also,” said Todd McGee, owner of the Powder House. “I’m always helpful to give them an extra day.”
Currently, over 140 countries around the world are offering paid sick days, most offering much more than the proposed seven days. Here in the United States, California and Massachusetts have adopted the policy, as have 15 cities, including Portland and Eugene.
“We could absorb paid sick days,” McGee said. “My biggest problem is since we are a small business, not the money paid into the sick time, it’s the person out of our store. That would hurt us more.”
Some say the bill makes perfect economic sense.
“That way, you don’t have people coming in who are sick and giving it to others,” Domingo said. “It’s a hard decision to make. Do I come in and get paid or do I stay home because I’m sick?”
