One of the problems with the legislative proposal to require businesses that employ 50 or more workers to provide at least five paid sick days a year is that it is a one-size-fits-all mandate that could have the unintended consequence of driving more jobs out of state.
Many small businesses just can’t afford such a plan, estimated by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association to cost an additional $26,000 per year for each $10-an-hour employee.
A business faced with that scenario is likely to cut jobs or reduce wages.
Business owners in Connecticut know that paid time off is often a critical need for their employees. But those owners are in the best position to craft their own policies that consider what is best for the employee and the company. After all, workers don’t benefit when a business shuts down or lays people off.
Another concern is that the state would be the first in the country to institute such a requirement, putting Connecticut in an even worse competitive position than it is now.
Connecticut is already one of the highest-cost states in which to do business, ranked as one of the least friendly states for businesses based on labor benefits and strict regulations.
Make no mistake, employers should provide as much time off for sickness or family emergencies as they can. But the proposal that as of late last week was tied up in the Senate was ill conceived and short sighted.
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Not A Smart Move
The state legislature appeared ready last week to approve a bill that makes it easier for qualified professionals to enter the teaching profession. But the bill never made it to a vote after a fillibuster, a move that will hopefully just delay its ultimate passage.
With so many highly skilled individuals out of a job, the path to the classroom needs to be smoother. Students will benefit from the expertise of people who have worked for years in a particular field.
The bill still requires a teaching certificate be obtained before someone can teach, but those hoping to make a mid-career shift no longer have to take classes on subjects they already know.
The measure also streamlines the certification process for teachers and administrators already certified in another state.
With approximately 30 percent of the nation’s teachers expected to retire within the next four years, measures that encourage qualified professionals to enter the teaching profession are well timed.
The Connecticut bill had received bipartisan support, even after lawmakers stripped a provision that would have instituted more difficult high school graduation requirements.
Making it easier for mid-career professionals to teach is a worthy goal that the legislature should not abandon. The bill should be revived as soon as possible.
