On August 1^st
Texas became the fourteenth state to have a major city establish a paid sick
leave law.  This trend is becoming more
and more accepted throughout the United States and will continue to gain
traction in the coming months.  While
there are currently no federal paid sick leave laws, representatives are using
these cities that have put one in place as their guinea pigs.  If they see that it is working for them, many
believe this law will make its way countrywide within the next few years.

Dallas is
the first city in Texas to offer paid sick leave, and workers and labor groups
in the city have celebrated.  But, after
two companies sued the city several employment lawyers have said that the city’s
new ordinance faces an uphill battle for survival in the court system.  In 2018 an appeals court ruled against the
paid sick leave law in Austin, and has decided to delay implementation in San
Antonio.  This decision was made because
they believed that since the law requires employers to pay for time off, it
therefore affects the rate workers are paid.
The law indirectly regulates wages, which is the job of the state and
federal governments.  What makes Dallas’
battle different than that of Austin and San Antonio is the fact that it will be
fought in federal court instead of at the state level. The lawsuit has stated
that the city’s ordinance violates both the state’s minimum wage act and the
U.S. Constitution.  

Companies
with over fifteen employees have the ability to cap paid sick leave at 64
hours, while smaller businesses can cap it at 48 hours.  The workers are allowed to accrue one hour of
paid sick leave for every 30 hours they work.
Some politicians have touted the ordinance by saying it is beneficial to
workers just trying to make a living as well as overall public health.  With that being said many business owners
have complained that the law is unnecessary and extremely costly.  

What do you
think the right decision is with regards to paid sick leave?  Should the courts rule in favor of the
business or side with workers and labor groups?
There are obvious pros and cons to each side of the argument, but this
kind of ordinance is becoming more and more trendy in the U.S.  Which side would you be on if this law was
coming to your state?  

Read full article here: http://bit.ly/2GWdU2v