A Bad Bill: INT 1059-2009
Gale Brewer, a City Council Member from the Upper West Side, has introduced INT 1059-2009, a bill that has the potential to be very damaging to small, independent businesses throughout New York City.
The bill requires that every business in this city -- no matter how small -- must provide paid sick time to employees. Businesses with as few as 10 employees will be required to provide nine paid sick days to each employee every year; businesses with fewer than 10 employees must provide a minimum of five paid sick days. Even part time and temporary workers are counted, and the days can be carried over year after year.
"Sick" days can be used if the employee is sick, to care for a sick relative (broadly defined), to stay home if their children are off from school, to go to court if they are a victim of domestic violence, and several other reasons. However, no documentation such as a doctor's note is required unless the employee takes off three consecutive days. Even in these cases, it is unclear as to what constitutes acceptable documentation.
As you know, most small business owners understand the value of their employees and care about their quality of life and well being. Consequently, many small businesses provide their employees with a suite of benefits that often include sick days, health care, vacation pay, child care, and more.
To be clear, the GVCCC is not opposed to paid sick time. However, this bill overreaches. It is far different for a business with 100 employees to cover a sick worker than it is for a business with just 10 employees. A business with 10 or even 50 employees will find it quite difficult to absorb an employee absence withouth bringing in a replacement worker. If this law is passed as it is written, such a business might add 90 days to over a year of labor to its cost structure. That could require the elimination of health care coverage, or reduced vacation pay, or worse. You do the math for your business.
We have published an open letter to the New York City Council that will appear in this week's The Villager, Chelsea Now, and the Clinton Chronicle. A link to the letter is HERE .
Please join us in opposing this legislation by contacting your elected representatives including the Mayor, the NYC Comptroller, your city council member, the Borough President, Gale Brewer, and any others who should hear your voice on this issue. Ask candidates for citywide office what their position is on this bill. Click on the names below to send an email.
City Council Member Gale Brewer
City Council Member Rosie Mendez
City Council Member & Chair of Small Business Committee David Yassky
Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer
New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson
NOTE: The Mayor and The Speaker do not accept emails except through their websites. The links below take you there.