Under the bill, employees who work 90 days in a year would earn at least three sick days. Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez says AB 1522 would insure people do not feel a financial obligation to work when they’re sick.
“It’s not good for them. It’s not good for our community. It’s not good for public health,” says Gonzalez. “So what we want to do is to be able to extend that opportunity to every worker -- the right to take a day off to go see a doctor.”
The state of Connecticut and several major cities including San Francisco have adopted similar laws.
Previous attempts to pass a state-wide measure in California have failed. Some employer groups oppose it, saying it would burden small businesses.
Backers say the bill would help business because healthy workers are more productive. The measure is now in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
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