In May, a proposal mandating sick leave allotment for Madison employers was shot down by the City Council after a five-hour overnight debate. Opponents, led by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, raised ongoing concerns about business regulation. However, proponents of mandated paid sick leave remain optimistic about a referendum next spring.
The proposal would have mandated one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, according to the main proponent of the measure, Ald. Austin King, District 8. This would amount to nine days of paid leave per a year of full-time employment.
King added the final revision would have applied only to workers clocking in more than 24 hours per week who have been employed for a minimum of three months.
Alfonso Zepeda-Capistran, former president of Latinos United for Change and Advancement, said the proposal would give flexibility to low-income workers who are afraid to take time off, or have difficulty requesting it from their employers.
'This really affects the poorest of the poor,' Zepeda-Capistran said. 'It's for those who don't have benefits or cushy jobs. '
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz did not endorse mandatory sick leave 'at this time,' though still thought the proposal addressed valid concerns, according to his spokesperson George Twigg.
Twigg added Cieslewicz had to be sensitive to the business community's concerns over the economic impact of other recent ordinances.
'Though dire predictions are overstated,' Twigg said, 'we want to make sure policies such as Inclusionary Zoning, statewide minimum wage increases and the smoking ban work well before adding mandatory sick leave.'
King was disappointed with the Mayor's stance, adding the Chamber of Commerce's concerns on such issues are 'bunk.'
King said ordinances such as the smoking ban, which the Chamber of Commerce considers 'anti-business,' have actually been successful, with increased liquor license applications in the past year.
Nevertheless, Chamber of Commerce Director of Public Policy Delora Newton said the Chamber opposes any 'one size fits all' mandate put on business,
Newton explained businesses with very thin profit margins have to be very choosy in how they assign benefits; employees may prefer other benefits such as higher wages and lower co-payment for health insurance.
To Zepeda-Capistran, the issue is about maintaining a healthy community and bridging a gap between employers and their workers.
'People get sick,' he said. 'What kind of community would Madison be if it didn't allow people to get better'?
