Mixed views on sick-leave legislation

LYNN – Legislation that would obligate all Massachusetts business owners to give sick leave to their employees has local business owners divided on the fairness of the terms.The main stipulations of the Paid Sick Time Act mandate that businesses with five employees or fewer would have to offer up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per year to their workers, and businesses that have between six and 10 employees would have to offer up to 40 hours of paid sick time. For businesses that employ more than 10 people, those workers are eligible for up to 56 hours of paid sick time per year.In addition, the bill specifies that for every 30 hours of work, an employee can earn one hour of sick time, no matter the number of employees in the particular business. The legislation favorably left the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development on March 15, said Kate Flanagan, research director for the state House of Representatives.Taso Nikolakopoulos, owner of John?s Roast Beef and Seafood in Lynn, said he?s surprised by the legislation but not totally taken aback.?It?s just another way of government putting the burden on the small business owner,” he said. “The price of food costs has gone way high. Not only that, but the price of gas is affecting everything. It?s just another added burden.”Nikolakopoulos, who has three full-time employees and 10 part-time employees, said if he had to start offering paid sick time, it would get expensive to pay for another worker to cover for an employee who goes on leave.?How long can I keep that going? I have to cut corners, or I have to pass it on to my consumer, and I can?t do that,” he said. However, Nikolakopoulos said that he does not want his employees to come into work sick, and he utilizes his part-time staff in those cases to pick up the shifts.Peter Rosetti, owner of Peter A. Rosetti Insurance Agency, Inc. in Saugus, said he currently offers five days of paid sick time each year to his five employees. He said he is in support of the proposed legislation.?Just today, I have an employee out because her daughter is ill. When she is here, she certainly does a great job, so you have to work with your employees to be able to share the responsibility,” he said. “If you expect them to do things for you, you have to be willing to make accommodations.”Rosetti also said he thinks the amount of sick time offered through the bill would be reasonable.?Quite honestly, I think spread over a year, that?s not a lot of time,” he said. “If they?re abusing it, and they?re out for weeks at a time, then that?s one issue. In general, I don?t think it?s a big issue.”Sean Grant, president of the Saugus Chamber of Commerce, and Leslie Gould, president and CEO of the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, had no comment on the pending legislation.Ann Marie Casey, executive director of the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber does not have an official position, but she said she can see both sides of the argument surrounding the Paid Sick Time Act.She said she understands how the legislation could prevent absenteeism, boost workplace morale and improve employer-employee relations. However, Casey said it is hard to have a legislation that sets a general rule for all industries, when the way business is operated in each industry can vary. “I do see merit in the legislation, but I do think industries should be considered in it,” she said. “I don?t think all industries have the same standards and practices.”Sarah Mupo can be reached at [email protected].