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Sunday, December 11, 2016

Governor Larry Hogan Announces Common Sense Paid Sick Leave Legislation

Balanced Approach Will Benefit Maryland Workers and Job Creators

ANNAPOLIS, MD –
Governor Larry Hogan today announced plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming session of the Maryland General Assembly to provide common sense, balanced paid sick leave benefits that have the potential to cover nearly all working Marylanders without placing an unmanageable burden on job creators. During his remarks at a State House press conference, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to common sense policies that will make Maryland a more business-friendly state while ensuring a strong and healthy workforce.

“For the last few years, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate around the issue of paid sick leave in Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “While all of us agree that more workers need sick leave in Maryland, it would be irresponsible to put a law on the books that unfairly penalizes our state’s job creators. It is clear that, in order to move forward, we must strike a balance between the needs of Maryland’s employees while not hurting our small businesses and continuing to foster a more business-friendly climate in our state.

“A strong majority of Marylanders want to see the state address this issue in a common sense way that benefits our workers while also protecting our small business job creators. We look forward to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to reach an agreement on a balanced, fair, and common sense approach to paid sick leave.”

The Hogan administration’s proposal contains important provisions to protect Maryland’s small business community. Businesses with 50 or more employees will be required to offer paid sick leave totaling at least 40 hours per year, with the ability for employees to roll over a maximum of 40 hours each year. The proposal also calls for part-time employees to be covered after a minimum of 30 working hours. If a company already has a general leave policy that meets these minimum requirements, the state will not interfere. In addition, the state will honor existing collective bargaining agreements with unions. The 50-employee threshold matches current federal standards under the Family Medical Leave Act and the Affordable Care Act.

Maryland small business job creators with fewer than 50 employees that choose to offer paid sick leave will be eligible for tax relief incentives closely modeled after the top recommendation of the Augustine Commission, a bipartisan panel that identified strategies to improve Maryland’s business climate. These small business owners will be able to exempt the first $20,000 of their income from taxes. The legislation will also provide protection for seasonal industries by exempting workers employed for less than 120 days in a 12-month period.

Governor Hogan is committed to giving Maryland workers the support they need without interfering with the policies of small businesses or putting jobs at risk. The Hogan administration’s common sense proposal would institute a fair and flexible statewide policy that would apply to all 24 jurisdictions and supersede existing policies to ensure consistency and ease of compliance for job creators across the state.

19 comments:

  1. Hope it fails to pass! Companies offer their rate of pay, vacation policies, health benefits and most some type of 401K.....if you don't like what they offer don't accept the job. It's almost like having a Union speak for me.....don't want it don't understand why he's involved.

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  2. Because he is a RINO. Got to keep his liberal brothers in the House and Senate happy. Keep running businesses out of Maryland and penalize those that remain.

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  3. Now all we need are jobs,,,,,,,,

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  4. ha ha ha ha ha
    Health benefits??
    401K ???
    Not in my world
    Not with my greedy employer
    Oh and no sick time either.

    You must be one of those greedy employers too!

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  5. There's going to be a LOT of workers in Ocean City being employed for 119 days!

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    Replies
    1. True. Under the law, if I understand it correctly, 120 days would mandate 7 days of sick leave. In other words, paid beach time!

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  6. 6:54 They usually only work jul aug sep oct. Your point?

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    1. Actually, nowadays in OC the hiring season is more like mid/end of April to the end of September.
      The Russians et al., begin arriving in April and leave town in October en masse. They will be thrilled to know that they can have a one-week paid vacation. I mean "sick leave".

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  7. 2:24 with that logic, can't take care of your employees? Don't hire any! Don't form a business. Give me a break. We live in the "best country in the world" right? Why don't we take care of our working class and act like it?

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  8. 8:43am Because the government taxes the businesses to death. Then they mandate how we spend our money. Obamacare hurts workers as much as it does employers. This is no different. Hogan wants to tell me how I run my business? I already offer everything he wants. However once he gets his chubby little sausage fingers wrapped around sick time he will not stop there. Life is not fair and its not equal. If you want to get to where I am you better bust your a$$. If you wanna sit back and collect unemployment or social services go ahead. However, dont complain because the only thing you get hired for is minimum wage because you lack drive and likely an education. EVERYTHING takes effort. Life is no different.

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  9. We need a small business tax cut Larry.

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  10. Larry the gov't isn't good at running businesses, just running them to another state or country. You say you want to bring business to Md. then support crap like this? Ever heard of free markets? Look into why Wayne left Md. for Tx.

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  11. 8:59 If you are so smart, why don't you just move/incorporate your business in DE or VA? Both are close enough.

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  12. Won't affect Perdue at all.....they have sick pay leave and a wellness center for their employees!!! One of the best packages on the Eastern Shore!!!

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  13. 10:17 AM You clearly think you know what you are talking about. Most people including you have no idea how businesses work. I AM incorporated in DE but, half of my income is generated in MD. My taxes in MD are usually twice what I pay in DE. However both of those states together don't even come close to 1/2 of what I pay Uncle Sam.

    There seems to be a lot of people that have no clue about what is really going on. They simply want to take. You earn what you get. If you want a job that offers benefits you better be willing to offer something back. I owe you nothing until you produce what I need. Once that happens we can talk. This is the difference between me and you. I help good workers put food on their tables and cloths on their kids backs. If they dont perform I really dont care what they do but, they will be doing it somewhere else.

    Wake up America the free ride is coming to an end. Better dust of that resume and get used to working.

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  14. Any time it's sold as "Common Sense" is a red flag for me. Usually it's more like rape.

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  15. 9:19, you stole my thunder! EXACTLY what I hear when they say "Common Sense"!

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