Paid sick days bill passes Senate

CT is likely to become the first state in the nation to require some employers to offer paid sick leave. SB 913 passed the state Senate yesterday 18 to 17. The bill would give workers in companies with 50 or more employees one hour of sick leave for every forty hours worked. Leave can be taken for a worker’s illness or for a spouse or child’s illness. Workers can begin using that leave after working 680 hours and are limited to using only five days per year. The measure is intended to keep workers from coming to work sick and passing their illness on to customers and other workers. The measure is estimated to cover 300,000 workers in CT and becomes effective Jan. 1st . The bill is expected to pass in the House and be signed by the Governor.