'Emergency' legislation would mandate paid sick leave for employer-directed absences

A new House bill would entitle workers to take up to five days of paid sick leave every 12 months if their employer “directs” or “advises” them to stay home due to a belief that they have or were exposed to a contagious illness like the H1N1 flu. The legislation, introduced by Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-CA, would apply to full- and part-time workers and sunset after two years. Employers already providing at least five days of paid sick leave would be exempt. Miller’s committee is expected to hold a hearing on the bill soon.  (Select News, 6 Nov 2009)

• Full text of Emergency Influenza Containment Act (HR 3991) (GPO, 3 Nov 2009) (PDF)
• Full text of press release (House Education and Labor Committee, 3 Nov 2009)
• Full text of HR Policy Association's policy brief on bill (4 Nov 2009) (PDF)

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