OSCPA opposes sick leave ballot initiative

Concerned about the negative impact on Ohio’s business community and the state’s economic development efforts, The Ohio Society of CPAs’ Executive Board voted to oppose the Healthy Families Act. 

This proposed ballot initiative would require businesses with 25 or more employees to provide at least seven days of paid sick leave annually to full-time employees. The measure would also mandate a pro-rated amount of sick leave to part-time employees and prevent employers from altering future sick leave benefit plans.

The proposal, defines full-time employment as 30 hours per week—which could set a dangerous precedent for determining what constitutes a full-time work week for both pay and benefits. In addition, mandating paid leave, even to part-time employees, creates an administrative burden and puts Ohio employers in a position of operating under an even slimmer profit margin. Rather than helping employees, this proposed mandate may force employers to:

• Cut workers’ hours
• Downsize employees
• Go out of business

If passed this November, this anti-competitive initiative would give Ohio the dubious distinction of being the first state to adopt mandatory paid sick leave. Currently the only jurisdiction with mandatory sick leave is San Francisco.

To view OSCPA’s position statement on the Healthy Families Act, click here. For more information, visit OhioBusinessVotes.gov, or contact the governmental affairs department.

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