The Lone Star State is fighting on a couple of fronts to prevent local communities from mandating paid sick leave benefits on private employers. Last week, a state appellate court blocked an Austin ordinance that, effective October 1, would require private businesses provide paid sick leave to employees. A lower court had previously rejected the…
Read More »In Michigan, the state Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to send a proposal raising the state minimum wage to $12/hour to the state ballot in November. The ballot initiative, which had been pushed by a group called Michigan One Fair Wage, would increase the current state minimum wage of $9.25 to $12/hour by 2022 and…
Read More »So it would seem that Chicago is intent on implementing as many policies as possible that win votes, but do little to grow and improve a region’s economy and business climate. First off, last month we noted an initiative by Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar to begin a Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilot program won support…
Read More »The United States Chamber of Commerce this week gave its approval to HR. 4219, The Work Flex in the 21st Century Act, filed by California republican Congresswoman Mimi Walters. The bill does not create nor mandate a paid leave policy, but rather offers private businesses flexibility in tailoring paid leave programs for its employees. Further,…
Read More »
Looks like it could be a long, hot and potentially expensive summer for Dunkin’ and other quick service franchise owners around the country. Several states and cities hiked their minimum wage on July 1, with a few now even pushing past the much ballyhooed $15 an hour mark. Activists pushing for sick leave mandates are…
Read More »Competing plans on how the government should structure a national paid leave policy were debated this week at a Senate Finance subcommittee hearing. The two plans, one from Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and the other by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), take completely different approaches on how to fund paid family leave at the national level.…
Read More »As we recall, senior presidential adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump has been one of the strongest advocates for developing a federal paid leave policy and she has been met with a host of Senators and others in Congress about the issue. Her chances for success however, may have hit a pothole last week with…
Read More »We told you last week that Republican Governor Charlie Baker signed the so-called grand bargain into law in Massachusetts. The ‘bargain’ grants an increase in the minimum wage from the current $11 an hour up to $15 by 2023, a five year phase-in. In addition, it provides up to 12 weeks of paid family leave…
Read More »Each year as July rolls around, and with it the start of state and municipal fiscal years, we also see many minimum wage hikes taking effect. In the interest of keeping our readers informed of these changes, we believe that the following minimum wages increases take effect Sunday: Washington DC from $12.50 to $13.25; Chicago…
Read More »Speaking of Massachusetts, governor Charlie Baker yesterday signed into law the so-called Grand Bargain compromise that avoids a couple of contentious issues from appearing on the November ballot. The legislation, negotiated over the past several weeks between advocates and some business groups, provides for an increase in the current $11 per hour minimum wage to…
Read More »