Lawmakers want mandatory paid sick days for more

HARTFORD — Majority Democrats in the General Assembly on Tuesday proposed legislation that would give paid sick days to as many as 1.6 million workers employed by smaller businesses.

State Sen. Julie Kushner, DDanbury, co-chairman of the legislative Labor Committee, said during a morning news conference in the State Capitol complex that many occupations have been left out of previous requirements dating back to 2011.

“There are also restrictions on the sectors that it covers, so there are many occupations that are left out, as well as many small employers,” Kushner said.

“One of the things we learned during the pandemic is that’s it’s really essential to have paid sick days, because otherwise they might not take that COVID test, because they’re afraid they’re going to get a positive and they cannot afford a day off from work,” Kushner said. “So the paid sick days is really important to make sure those workers have that protection.”

Current requirements for 40 hours of sick time per year cover only those employers with more than 50 workers. The benefit dates back to 2011 and legislation signed into law by thenGov. Dannel Malloy.

The new proposal would require employers with fewer than 50 workers to provide the benefit as well. Kushner stressed that paid sick days are not to be confused with the state’s 2019 law that in 2022, set up a paid sick leave program for workers to received as many as 12 weeks of benefits to help take care of ailing family members or themselves.

Current requirements for 40 hours of sick time per year cover only those employers with more than 50 workers. The proposal would require employers with fewer than 50 workers to provide the benefit as well.

Kushner said that the Democratic caucus, which holds a 2412 majority in the Senate, also wants to push for so-called predictable scheduling, requiring the retail, food service and hospitality industries to provide notice of shifts as many as 14 days ahead of time.

“We know that so many workers in our state are working two and three jobs,” Kushner said. “And they have make choices every day about the scheduling of how you manage different employers and different schedules.” It would affect employers with at least 500 workers that operate at least 30 locations.