The Albuquerque Coalition for a Healthy Economy (a broad-based coalition of business and free market groups) filed a lawsuit in State District Court today due to the Healthy Workforce Ordinance. Among the legal concerns expressed by the coalition were “logrolling,” requirements to provide workers paid sick leave who work as few as 56 hours, absurd requirements relating to legal fees, and onerous requirements on notification and record-keeping.
Lastly, the ballot measure which will be voted on in October attempts to tie the hands of future lawmakers in ways that are clearly illegal.
The Rio Grande Foundation has been opposed to government requirements to mandate paid sick leave since day one.
With New Mexico facing the nation’s highest unemployment rate, the last thing businesses or workers need is yet another set of government mandates that impose costs on businesses that will be passed along to consumers in the form of higher costs and to workers in the form of reduced flexibility in work arrangements and even fewer jobs being available.
Already, Bernalillo County has recently raised taxes, State lawmakers have been pushing for higher taxes, and the City of Albuquerque could be facing additional tax hikes due to its own budget woes. More regulations on businesses are the last thing Albuquerque needs.
It is very nice that some businesses offer a few sick and/or personal days as a benefit, but I do not think that should be a law or regulation. People must be more responsible and realize that they will probably get sick once or twice a year or have to take a day off for an emergency and plan for that money-wise. In other words, save some money for times like this. I just hate how government thinks it has to regulate every aspect of everything.
Just another intrusion of government into private business. Sick leave is not a right, it’s offered by employers as a benefit. Another Liberal idea to keep everyone on the dole for upcoming elections.