Cape Elizabeth lawmaker pushes paid sick leave requirement

CAPE ELIZABETH — A local lawmaker is introducing legislation to provide paid sick leave for all Maine residents.

State Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, said the bill is at the revisor’s office, where it will be edited according to the style necessary for legislative protocol. It will be given a bill number and, later, a hearing.

It’s the intent of the bill that matters, Millett said.

“Sick leave is a benefit white-collar professionals take for granted. But for thousands and thousands of Mainers, particularly low-income workers, a lack of access to sick leave means the decision to take time off from work to recover from illness or take care of a sick child or parent is a choice between the health of their families and their financial security,” Millett said in a prepared statement.

The bill would require companies with 50 or more employees to offer paid sick leave. In Maine, about 230,000 workers would qualify.

Read more: http://www.theforecaster.net/cape-elizabeth-lawmaker-pushes-paid-sick-leave-requirement/