H1N1 Paid Sick Leave Splits Democrats, Advocacy Groups

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/26/78/28.php

The House labor committee will hold a hearing on the Emergency Influenza Containment Act the week of November 16. It’s unclear when or if a companion Senate bill will be introduced.

November 5, 2009
H1N1 Paid Sick Leave Splits Democrats, Advocacy Groups

With H1N1 flu fears spreading as fast as the sickness itself, a leading House Democrat wants rapid action on legislation that would give employees five paid sick days.

But in rushing out the measure on Tuesday, November 3, Rep. George Miller, D-California and chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, roiled paid leave advocates who worry that he gives employers too much power to determine who can stay home.

The author of broader paid sick leave legislation, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, is not on board: http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/26/43/75.php

“I am concerned that the Miller bill—while a modest step forward—would establish a limp paid leave benefit that is triggered by the employer and can also be taken away by the employer; and it offers no real guarantee that a working parent can care for a sick child,” DeLauro said in a statement Thursday, November 4, to Workforce Management.

DeLauro added that she “can work with Chairman Miller to make it a better bill.”

The House labor committee will hold a hearing on Miller’s measure, the Emergency Influenza Containment Act, the week of November 16. It’s unclear when or if a companion Senate bill will be introduced.

President Barack Obama declared the H1N1 pandemic—popularly known as swine flu—a national emergency on October 24.

FULL story at link.