Long-overdue ordinance working in other cities

MICHELLE HERNANDEZ, incoming chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is unduly fearful of the proposed … sick leave ordinance. She claims it will place an undue burden on employers because (they) will have to initially prove they were not retaliating against a worker if they take an adverse action against a worker, such as suspension, termination or reporting a worker to governmental authorities, and the worker claims the employer was primarily motivated to punish the worker for having taken sick leave.

If this ordinance was the first of its kind in the nation, such a fear would not be unreasonable. … Various cities across the nation have passed these ordinances … with the same retaliation provision — from Portland, Ore., to Jersey City, N.J. Employers there have not complained about the provision. ….

Our nation lags behind every other civilized nation in refusing to guarantee paid sick leave or vacation pay. The fact many employers in Albuquerque already provide paid sick leave speaks highly for our local employers, but there are more than enough employers not so generous. Employers providing paid sick leave should be most pleased to see this ordinance passed so they are not carrying a cost burden for paid sick leave that some of their competitors are not presently carrying. The ordinance — which is on the back side of ballots so don’t miss it! — is long overdue and should be supported. MITCHELL J. FREEDMAN Rio Rancho