FamilyValues@Work.org

After Maine’s paid sick days bill was reintroduced this winter, it seemed like momentum was on the side of passage. Activists, including public health experts, parents, workers, and business owners, conducted a months-long, spirited campaign to educate the public and policymakers about the importance of paid sick days. In the last couple of weeks, however, [...]

After a work session on March 8, Maine’s paid sick day bill remains tabled in Labor Committee. With a few days to mull over the policy, the Committee will come back this Thursday, March 18, with a vote on L.D. 1665. In the meantime, Maine voters are registering their support. Activists have left more than [...]

A new set of surveys and a national report from Restaurant Opportunities Centers United show that although the restaurant industry continues to prosper—even in the face of the economic crisis—most workers are still being denied the family-supporting policies that would make these jobs sustainable. Using data collected from restaurant worker surveys in Chicago, Metro Detroit, [...]

Sarah Standiford, head of Maine’s paid sick days coalition, very ably debated a business lobbyist on Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s “Maine Watch” last week on the issue of paid sick days. Follow the link to the February 5 program and scroll over to about 8 minutes, 40 seconds into the video. Sarah answers the business [...]

More and more businesspeople are speaking out in favor of Maine’s proposed paid sick days policy. Dozens of small business owners recently held a media event in Orono, Maine, to talk about the need for paid sick days. Check out the Maine Women’s Lobby blog for a news report on the event.

In October, Maine State Senate President Libby Mitchell introduced “An Act to Aid in the Prevention of the Spread of H1N1 Influenza by ensuring the Provision of Earned Paid Sick Time.” The bill would provide approximately six paid sick days annually for large businesses and approximately three days for small businesses. The time could be [...]