Impact on Employees
Mandatory Paid Sick Leave not only affects employers, but employees too. While it seems like a benefit to employees at first glance, that perception is misguided because in the end, providing perks like paid time off is not free for anyone involved. Increases in paid sick leave benefits will be offset by decreases in other benefits, and can compromise continuity in the workplace and in our everyday lives as well.
Covering Shifts/Workload - Because an employee can decide not to show up for work without any warning, employees who do report to work will see an increase in workload to cover for those who did not come in, at least until a replacement can be found.
In addition, covering for an absent employee may involve utilizing another employee who is not as familiar with the task at hand – costing productivity, and in some cases, workplace safety.
Loss of Flexible Benefits - Compliance with Mandated Paid Sick Leave will increase costs for employers. In return, employers may be forced to either alter existing benefits or shift costs from other employee benefits like bonuses, vacation, and personal time to pay for the added costs of compliance. Even employee health benefits are not immune from potential cuts. Employers may need to make tough decisions between providing health care or providing paid sick days.
As a result, employees who enjoy health benefits, vacation and flexible personal time off may lose many of those benefits in favor of a rigid paid sick leave entitlement.
Effect on Everyday Activities - Mandatory paid sick leave will also create a ripple effect on all of us throughout our daily routine. For instance, day care centers are required to have a certain ratio of employees present per child before they can open their doors to customers each day. Imagine dropping your child off at a day care center that cannot open because an employee has not reported to work. Now you’re late for work because you have to wait until someone shows up.