All articles tagged with #paid sick leave
Missouri voters approved Proposition A to expand paid sick leave, benefiting over 700,000 workers, but the law was repealed by the GOP shortly after its implementation, sparking protests and discussions of constitutional measures to protect voter-approved laws.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill repealing a voter-approved law that guaranteed paid sick leave and minimum wage adjustments, citing burdensome mandates, with the repeal taking effect August 28. The move was supported by business groups and opposed by workers' rights advocates, who may attempt to reinstate the law through a new ballot initiative in the future.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed legislation repealing a paid sick leave law and annual inflation adjustments for the minimum wage, following heavy lobbying by business groups and a Republican-led effort to overturn voter-approved measures, sparking criticism from Democrats and workers' rights advocates.
In the November 2024 elections, voters in Alaska and Missouri approved measures to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2027 and 2026, respectively, with future adjustments for inflation. Both states, along with Nebraska, also passed measures requiring employers to provide paid sick leave. Alaska's measure includes a ban on captive audience meetings. Meanwhile, a California proposal to increase the minimum wage to $18 remains undecided. The federal minimum wage has been stagnant at $7.25 since 2009.
The Michigan Supreme Court is set to decide on the constitutionality of a legislative maneuver used in 2018 to undermine a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave proposal. The controversial "adopt and amend" strategy allowed lawmakers to divert the proposals from the ballot and make significant changes to their original intent. Opponents argue that this move violated the constitutional rights of voters, while defenders claim that the legislature has the authority to adopt and amend laws in the same session. The court's decision will determine whether Michigan workers will see a sudden minimum wage hike, whether restaurant workers will move from a tipped wage to minimum wage, and whether paid sick leave mandates will be expanded to small businesses.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation guaranteeing workers at least five paid sick days per year, up from the current three days, while also increasing the accrual and carryover amounts. The expansion of paid sick leave aims to improve productivity, reduce healthcare costs, and provide economic security for workers and their families. The move is seen as a significant win for workers who have struggled to access adequate paid sick time, and it reinforces California's commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its workforce.
Burger King worker Kevin Ford received a small goody bag as a reward for never calling in sick during his 20-year career, which went viral on TikTok. People on the internet felt he deserved more and raised over $400,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Ford, a single father with four daughters, never took sick days due to a lack of paid sick leave. He plans to use the funds for retirement, his grandchildren's education, and to make up for lost time with his children. Ford advises others not to prioritize work over their health and family.
Around 40% of food poisoning outbreaks with a known cause were linked to sick or infectious workers, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC researchers say fewer than half of the establishments with outbreaks linked to sick workers had paid sick leave. Providing restaurant workers with paid sick leave could make restaurants safer places to eat, the researchers say. The CDC also called for better compliance with recommendations in the FDA Food Code.