BY JAKE NEHER
Michigan Public Radio Network
Some state lawmakers want to ban local governments from adopting new protections for sick workers. The state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would restrict local ordinances that mandate paid sick leave.
Cities, towns, and counties would not be able to pass laws setting minimum time off for sick workers. A handful of cities across the county have adopted such laws. None of them appear to be in Michigan.
Democratic state Senator Rebekah Warren said if local governments want to require longer periods of sick leave, the state should respect that.
"It sends the message that we truly don't trust our local communities to make decisions about local public health, which is one of the things that we entrust in them," Warren said.
But supporters of the bill say federal and state laws regarding sick leave already do enough to protect sick workers. They said the ordinances would hurt small businesses.
Copyright 2013, MPRN