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Bill Would Make Offering Paid Sick Leave Mandatory In Nevada

A bill under review by Nevada lawmakers would require all businesses in Nevada to offer paid sick leave to employees. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

Under Senate Bill 259all workers would earn at least an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours on the clock. That benefit would kick in after a worker has been on the job for 90 days. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Aaron Ford sponsored the measure and testified at a Senate committee meeting Monday.

"Paid sick days are a basic labor standard," Ford said. "Americans rate it as more important than several employee rights already required by law."

Kristy Oriol, with the Nevada Network Against Domestic Violence, says this bill would allow a lot of her clients to get the help they need.

"We often hear from victims who are needing to attend court hearings or get counseling or have medical needs based on the violence they've experienced," Oriol explained. "And it's very unfortunate when they can't receive these services because they simply can't afford to take the time off."

As written, the bill does not make exceptions for small businesses. That's why several organizations across the state testified against it, including the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce. Tray Abney spoke on that group's behalf:

"A lot of small business owners are middle class," he said. "I think we forget business owners when we discuss protecting the middle class, growing the middle class. You do not help grow a business by making it more expensive for them to operate."

Under this proposal, employees would also be allowed to use their paid sick leave to care for family members or receive counseling.

Michelle Billman is a former news director at KUNR Public Radio.
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