In a development watched by employers across the country, the California legislature killed a bill that would have made paid sick leave mandatory.

The bill died in committee when several legislators and business lobbyists pointed out the expense involved for the already-debt-ridden state: somewhere in the neighborhood of  $4.5 billion for employers over a five-year period. On top of that, the state government would have been required to extend the benefit to its own employees, likely increasing the $15.2-billion budget deficit the state already has.

Some of the details of the proposal: 

• The benefit would have covered about 6 million workers in the state who don’t get paid sick leave now. 
• Small companies would have been required to offer up to five paid days a year; larger companies would have been required to offer up to nine days.

Here is a Senate summary of the bill and a list of groups that supported or opposed it.

Tags: California, sick leave