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The governor opposes the initiative for mandatory sick days. Will he now work widely and vigorously to ensure its defeat?
Published on Friday, Aug 22, 2008
What a flattering picture that will make, an Ohio desperately needing to look forward now hurled into the past, featuring an old-fashioned labor vs. management donnybrook.
The governor rightly hoped to avoid such a clash, the waste of resources and energy. Much room for compromise exists, especially in repairing the many poorly crafted provisions and altering the threshold for coverage. Fifty employees, anyone? Now that his effort has collapsed, the governor must stand front and center with those working to defeat the proposal. His voice must sound loudly and often that Ohio cannot afford such a misguided measure.
On Thursday, Strickland made a start at taking such a stance. He joined Lee Fisher, the lieutenant governor, in calling for the defeat of the issue, rightly describing the proposal as ''unworkable, unwieldly and . . . detrimental to Ohio's economy.''
The problem is not paid sick leave. Many employers, large and small, make the benefit available. They understand what is required to attract and retain good employees. The trouble resides in the details. The governor captured the many shortcomings in his proposed ''compromise construct.''
Consider the lack of a precise definition of ''employee.'' Companies currently with paid sick leave will have to make adjustments in their sick-leave policies before Election Day. If they do not, and the ballot issue wins passage, they will face the prospect of having to apply the new requirements to their current policies. There is much uncertainty about carrying over sick days from one year to the next, plus whether unused sick leave must be paid to an employee upon departing the company.
Employees would be permitted to take sick leave in increments of one hour or less. They would be allowed three days without having to obtain medical certification. These elements and others open the way for abuse, not to mention litigation. More, they amount to undue headaches for many seeking to manage their small businesses.
In explaining their opposition, the governor and the lieutenant governor urged campaign adversaries ''to avoid portraying Ohio as unfriendly to business and economic development.'' The state doesn't need an ugly fight. At the same time, it must avoid the harm promised by this issue, and that will take vigorous leadership from the governor and his team.
Get the full article here.
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