Paid rest for the weary

You’re sick. but you have to go to work because you’re employer doesn’t give you paid sick days and you need the money. It’s a dilemma many face and one that Maryland leaders want to fix.

“What is very concerning to us is that some many people have to choose between being sick and going to work,” said Maryland senate majority leader Catherine Pugh (D).

Pugh is sponsoring a bill that would make paid sick days required for a majority of businesses in the state.

Under the bill, businesses that employ more than a certain number of people would have to allow their employees to earn up to seven paid sick days a year, one hour of paid leave for every thirty hours of work.

But that “certain number” of employees , is still unclear.

“That’s part of what we’re looking at, you know, trying to be able to negotiate how small should a business be, is it 10 employees, is it 15 employees; so we’re working on that and we’re willing to have those discussions,” Pugh said.

Robert Mulford owns Market Street Inn and employs thirty to forty people depending on time of year. He says he understands the dilemma, but also needs to worry about making enough money to keep his business open.

“You’re sympathetic to that but I still have to pay someone to be here so know I’m paying someone to be home, someone to be here, ” Mulford said. “It gets to the point where I just can’t keep the doors open.”

Mulford said for most small businesses like his, passing this type of legislation would be crippling.

“If they want to mandate that then there’s just another 30-40 people; I’m just going to close the doors and there’s another small business in Maryland that’s closed and gone and it’s 40 people out of a job,” Mulford said.

Mulford’s worries are one’s Pugh has heard before, but she says she and her supporters aim to fine tune the bill so both employees and employers will be satisfied.

A similar bill failed to make out of committee last year.

Despite that, Pugh said she’s confident the bill will pass this time, pointing out Oregon passed similar legislation this past year. 

Three other states and the District of Columbia also have mandatory paid sick leave laws. You’re sick. but you have to go to work because you’re employer doesn’t give you paid sick days and you need the money. It’s a dilemma many face and one that Maryland leaders want to fix.