Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska voters recently expressed strong support for mandatory paid sick leave for employees. However, some lawmakers in these states are trying to overturn these initiatives, largely due to concerns from businesses about the economic impact. This push by legislators reflects a broader trend of attempting to alter laws even after they have been approved by voters.
For example, a similar situation occurred in Michigan, where a paid sick leave regulation initiated by voters was modified, resulting in delayed compliance for small businesses and extended timelines for new employees to qualify for such leave. This has sparked a mix of outrage and understanding among the public and lawmakers. Some politicians argue that the realities of business operations were overlooked by the advocates of the initiatives.
Tim Hart, who runs a steakhouse in Hannibal, Missouri, is one such business owner voicing concerns. Hart highlights the financial strain this law places on businesses, as it requires paying one worker to take leave and another to cover their shift. “When this goes into effect, we very likely won’t survive,” Hart emphasized as he urged the state Senate to reconsider the law.
Despite this, workers like Richard Eiker, an employee at a McDonald’s restaurant, stand to benefit. Eiker, who supported the petition to get the measure on the Missouri ballot, has never received paid sick leave in his 40-year career, despite enduring ailments like a severe kidney stone. “I just took some pain medication and just worked past the pain,” Eiker shared, expressing the potential relief the law would provide.
Federal law obliges many companies to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave but does not mandate paid sick days. Even though the majority of private sector workers had access to paid sick leave last year, it was significantly less common among part-time employees and those in lower-income brackets.
State-mandated paid sick leave has been on the rise since Connecticut set the precedent in 2012. Following the recent ballot measures, 18 states and the District of Columbia now require paid sick leave, with additional states mandating paid leave for any reason. Provisions typically apply to employers with at least one worker, although some states exempt smaller businesses. The number of mandatory paid sick days also varies.
In Missouri, the paid sick leave law recently survived a challenge from business groups in the state Supreme Court but remains under scrutiny. Republican members of the House passed legislation to abolish the requirement, but this was subsequently blocked by Senate Democrats. Consequently, Republicans are proposing a compromise to delay the law, exempt smaller businesses, and eliminate workers’ ability to file lawsuits for violations.
Meanwhile, debate continues in Nebraska, where Republican lawmakers propose exceptions for young, temporary, and seasonal workers, as well as businesses with up to ten employees. The proposal would also prevent workers from suing their employers over retaliatory actions related to sick leave.
Nebraska state Senator John Cavanaugh criticized these changes, stating, “That is a huge overstep by this Legislature to say that we know better than the people who voted for this.” Lawmakers in Alaska, too, are grappling with efforts to modify the voter-backed legislation. State Rep. Justin Ruffridge is advocating for seasonal workers and small businesses to be excluded from the sick leave requirement, arguing that business owners should have flexibility in deciding how to allocate resources.
Joelle Hall, president of the Alaska AFL-CIO, which supported the original ballot, is skeptical about the success of these legislative changes but recognizes the challenges ahead. “I believe this is the beginning of a long battle to protect the voters’ wishes from the wills and the whims of the businesspeople who don’t want to pay sick days,” Hall stated.