Rigby votes against ‘sick leave’ bill

HARTFORD — State Rep. John Rigby last week voted against a proposal (S.B. 913) that would require some Connecticut employers to give employees paid sick leave. The bill passed by a 6-5 vote in the House Labor Committee.If approved by the full Legislature, the measure will provide benefits to approximately 257,000 people in the private sector by mandating employers of more than 50 employees to offer paid sick leave to workers after three months on the job. Employees would earn one hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked.Rigby said in a written statement that no other state in the nation places this mandate on businesses. “At a time when we should be doing everything we can as a state to encourage businesses to grow jobs, a proposal like this doesn’t make much sense,” he said. The Connecticut Business and Industry Association lobbied against the bill, saying it would put a burden on Connecticut’s businesses. Rigby added that he believes the decision to offer sick leave should be made by the employer. “This bill would force a one-size-fits-all policy on companies regardless of their industry, business demands and workforce,” he said.Connecticut lawmakers have seen the sick leave issue come up each year for the past four years, with the bills ultimately failing. The bill did not come up last year, when then Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she would veto it. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has said he supports the measure.“Seeing this proposal come back in the Legislature year after year discourages new businesses from relocating to our state and discourages existing businesses from expanding,” Rigby said. Rigby represents Winchester, North Canaan, Hartland, Colebrook, Canaan (Falls Village), Barkhamsted and Norfolk.