COLUMBUS – The Ohio Small Business Council and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors have voted unanimously to oppose the mandated paid sick leave proposal initiated by the Service Employees International Union.
The proposal would require all Ohio employers with 25 or more employees to provide seven paid sick days to their employees.
I find it rather ironic that the SEIU’s mission is to protect employees and yet they’re backing a proposal that could cost Ohioans their jobs,” said Tim Pitrone, OSBC chairman.
The SEIU sent its proposal to the legislature for consideration after having collected more than 120,000 signatures. However, it appears that the legislature will not pass the bill, requiring the SEIU to collect another 120,000 valid signatures to get the initiative on the November ballot.
The proposal has been criticized as being vague and ambiguous. Businesses and employers across Ohio are unsure how details of the initiative would be implemented if passed. Additionally, the proposal does not take into account what benefits a business may already offer its employees. They also argue that it provides more opportunities for employee abuse.
If passed, Ohio would be the only state in the entire country to mandate paid sick leave for its employees,” Pitrone said. “At a time when Ohio is trying to compete in a global economy, the SEIU wants to be dead last in our own country.”
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors also unanimously voted to oppose the measure.
For more information, visit ohiochamber.com.
