jneale
26 Jun 2008, 01:00 PM
Thing twice before you help put this up to vote this fall...
link (http://www.ohioprosperity.com/page.asp?g=OHIO&content=issues_sick_leave&parent=OHIO)
Proposal to require more sick leave benefits could hurt Ohio's economy and make it harder for employers to reward good employees
Ohioans could have the chance to vote on a ballot initiative that would place severe demands on employers by requiring them to offer greater amounts of paid leave in many more situations than they currently do. While Ohio's employers recognize the need to provide employees paid leave in appropriate situations, the proposed changes will likely make it harder for employers to be fair to all employees, and could have a significant negative impact on their ability to financially reward their best workers.
What are some of the negative effects the proposal could have on employers that are struggling to remain competitive and provide job security for their employees?
- Employers with as few as 25 employees will have to set aside financial resources to provide seven paid sick days per year to all full time employees.
- Even part-time employees are guaranteed paid time off for either themselves or their family's health needs.
- The administrative burdens created by the proposal will add additional costs to employers, who will have to spend additional resources to meet these requirements or be penalized with costly fines.
- Employers will have less flexibility in dealing with how they give employees time off. Many employees who enjoy the benefits of Paid Time Off or no-fault attendance policies would be in danger of losing those options.
- Employers would not be able to negatively evaluate, discipline or refrain from promoting individuals due to absenteeism associated with paid sick leave, creating an uneven playing field for how employers can reward their best employees.
- The proposal allows individuals to 'carry over' as much sick leave as they wish each year, allowing those who wish to take long paid absences down the road no financial incentive to return to work as early as possible.
- A new avenue of claims by disgruntled employees will mean that employers will be forced to spend more financial resources on legal fees.
- Employers’ ability to evaluate medical situations will be hampered, and employers could be required to pay for leave and then wait for 30 days for medical certification information before disciplining employees who abuse the system.
How can placing more requirements on employers and employees regarding sick leave affect Ohio’s economy overall?
- Ohio would be the only state with this law. Economic experts say this could place the state at a competitive disadvantage when businesses are looking to place new facilities or expand their operations, providing another obstacle to new jobs.
- Many employers worry that having to cater to those who abuse sick leave policies will hurt the morale of their best employees, ultimately leading to loss in productivity and threatening their ability to compete and survive.
- Employers that offer generous sick leave packages say that they can afford to do so only because they have the freedom to stop employee abuse, and that the proposal takes away their ability to do so.
More information will be available on the Ohio Healthy Families Act as the proposal is considered for the November 2008 ballot. Check back for more information about how this proposal could impact your employer and their ability to be flexible and fair to all employees.
Here is the other side:
sick days Ohio (http://www.sickdaysohio.org/)
link (http://www.ohioprosperity.com/page.asp?g=OHIO&content=issues_sick_leave&parent=OHIO)
Proposal to require more sick leave benefits could hurt Ohio's economy and make it harder for employers to reward good employees
Ohioans could have the chance to vote on a ballot initiative that would place severe demands on employers by requiring them to offer greater amounts of paid leave in many more situations than they currently do. While Ohio's employers recognize the need to provide employees paid leave in appropriate situations, the proposed changes will likely make it harder for employers to be fair to all employees, and could have a significant negative impact on their ability to financially reward their best workers.
What are some of the negative effects the proposal could have on employers that are struggling to remain competitive and provide job security for their employees?
- Employers with as few as 25 employees will have to set aside financial resources to provide seven paid sick days per year to all full time employees.
- Even part-time employees are guaranteed paid time off for either themselves or their family's health needs.
- The administrative burdens created by the proposal will add additional costs to employers, who will have to spend additional resources to meet these requirements or be penalized with costly fines.
- Employers will have less flexibility in dealing with how they give employees time off. Many employees who enjoy the benefits of Paid Time Off or no-fault attendance policies would be in danger of losing those options.
- Employers would not be able to negatively evaluate, discipline or refrain from promoting individuals due to absenteeism associated with paid sick leave, creating an uneven playing field for how employers can reward their best employees.
- The proposal allows individuals to 'carry over' as much sick leave as they wish each year, allowing those who wish to take long paid absences down the road no financial incentive to return to work as early as possible.
- A new avenue of claims by disgruntled employees will mean that employers will be forced to spend more financial resources on legal fees.
- Employers’ ability to evaluate medical situations will be hampered, and employers could be required to pay for leave and then wait for 30 days for medical certification information before disciplining employees who abuse the system.
How can placing more requirements on employers and employees regarding sick leave affect Ohio’s economy overall?
- Ohio would be the only state with this law. Economic experts say this could place the state at a competitive disadvantage when businesses are looking to place new facilities or expand their operations, providing another obstacle to new jobs.
- Many employers worry that having to cater to those who abuse sick leave policies will hurt the morale of their best employees, ultimately leading to loss in productivity and threatening their ability to compete and survive.
- Employers that offer generous sick leave packages say that they can afford to do so only because they have the freedom to stop employee abuse, and that the proposal takes away their ability to do so.
More information will be available on the Ohio Healthy Families Act as the proposal is considered for the November 2008 ballot. Check back for more information about how this proposal could impact your employer and their ability to be flexible and fair to all employees.
Here is the other side:
sick days Ohio (http://www.sickdaysohio.org/)