Former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, a potential candidate for Governor, today reaffirmed his long-standing position that Connecticut employers should provide paid sick leave to their employees. Malloy said Ned Lamont, who in an interview published online today (http://www.ctmirror.org/story/lamont-political-rock-star-tries-expand-his-base) said he is against paid sick days, "doesn't get it."
"There are certain basic rights that should be afforded to any working person in Connecticut, and paid sick leave is certainly among them," said Malloy. "It's wrong that we would penalize workers - salaried or on hourly wage - for being ill. A person should not have to worry about missing a rent check or a mortgage payment because they catch the flu."
"Ned doesn't get it. Ned says he thinks '...we deal with sick leave just fine at the small-business level where I live.' But that's the problem: most people don't live in that world. Ned's statement shows just how disconnected he is from the concerns of the average working person in Connecticut."
"Providing paid sick days to employees isn't just the right and fair thing to do, it's also good public policy," continued Malloy. "Connecticut has tens of thousands of employees who work in food service and healthcare. Allowing those sick workers time to recuperate benefits the entire population. Additionally, allowing workers to take time to seek early treatment also means fewer trips to the emergency room for untreated illness - saving the state money.
"It's not anti-business. It's smart public policy, and it's the right thing to do."
In recent years both branches of Connecticut's State Legislature have passed bills that would require employers to provide sick leave. Each bill required employers with 50 or more employees to provide sick leave, with paid sick time accruing at a rate of one hour for every 40 hours worked.
Malloy said he supports the legislation, and that there are "smart ways to improve the business climate in Connecticut that don't involve jeopardizing people's health."
He concluded, "Connecticut needs to lower energy costs, provide smart tax incentives that reward businesses that create jobs, and fix our health care system to help small businesses lower their overhead. And we can do these things, and more. But we don't have to force sick people to go to work."
