NH House bill mandating paid sick days draws opposition

[The Straight Story]

NH House bill mandating paid sick days draws opposition

By Robert M. Cook
Wednesday, September 9, 2009

CONCORD — A House bill that would require employers to give workers five paid sick days per year as concerns mount about swine flu is drawing the ire of some business groups and praise from family advocates.

House Bill 662 is sponsored by Rep. Mary Stuart Gile, D-Concord, and is in the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee. It was originally aired in the committee last spring and retained for this session.

If approved, it would require any New Hampshire business that employs at least 10 people to provide five paid sick days for their full- and part-time workers who have worked for a given company at least six months.

Gile said her bill is the result of recommendations made by a legislative work and family task force established in the fall 2007. She said paid sick days were among the recommendations the group made in November 2008 based on testimony from many New Hampshire businesses, workers and other groups.

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