Sick leave: Exclusion for big business must be fixed

We shared a collective sigh of relief with US House passage of the Coronavirus Response Act. In addition to giving workers access to paid and family leave, Americans are simply grateful that our government got something done.

The new law should be celebrated, but the fine print excludes anyone who works for an employer with over 500 employees. It is only small employers that bear the burden of paying for 10 days of sick leave and up to 12 of family leave.

Small businesses are most vulnerable in a recession. Sure, they will be eligible for a tax credit down the road, but this will impact cash flow and squeeze business owners.

Big businesses are better positioned to absorb increased costs. Freedom from these regulatory burdens will increase market share as mom and pops fail and employees go without pay.

Make no mistake, this legislation is critical, but it may create as much damage as it is trying to prevent.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Sick leave: Exclusion for big business must be fixed."