No Cough With My Coffee

About 20 protesters picketed outside the Beacon St. Dunkin’ Donuts Thursday afternoon, demanding earned sick time for the nearly 25,000 Massachusetts employees of the famous chain. “Without a sick time policy, stores force employees to make the difficult choice between coming into work sick or staying home and losing pay or, in the worst cases, their jobs,” said sick day proponent spokesman Steven Crawford In a statement announcing the protest.

In a letter to the Legislature, Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Owners Mass PAC Chairman Robert Branca argued in opposition to the proposal, saying there are already sufficient legal protections for employees on the books. Groups representing small businesses have called the bill a jobs killer that would cost nearly 12,000 jobs if implemented.