[Craig Nigrelli]

WHILE PAID SICK DAYS MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A MORE PROGRESSIVE CONCEPT – VOTERS IN THREE RED STATES ARE ON BOARD.

PAID SICK LEAVE WAS ON THE BALLOTS IN MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, AND ALASKA.

THE MEASURE PASSED IN MISSOURI WITH 58 PERCENT VOTING IN FAVOR.

IT REQUIRES COMPANIES TO GIVE EMPLOYEES 1 HOUR OF PAID SICK LEAVE FOR EVERY 30 HOURS WORKED…

UP TO 5 DAYS PER YEAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH FEWER THAN 15 EMPLOYEES…

AND UP TO 7 DAYS A YEAR FOR LARGER COMPANIES.

THE MEASURE WILL ALSO RAISE MISSOURI’S MINIMUM WAGE FORM 13 DOLLARS PER HOUR TO 15 OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

IN NEBRASKA – 74 PERCENT OF VOTERS SAID THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF REQUIRING COMPANIES TO OFFER PAID SICK LEAVE.

THAT STATE CONSIDERS SMALL COMPANIES TO BE THOSE HAVING FEWER THAN 20 EMPLOYEES.

SMALL BUSINESSES MUST NOW PROVIDE 40 HOURS PER YEAR – OR UP TO 5 DAYS PAID SICK LEAVE…

AND LARGE BUSINESSES HAVE TO GIVE EMPLOYEES UP TO 56 HOURS – OR 7 DAYS’ WORTH.

AND SO FAR IN ALASKA – 56 PERCENT OF VOTERS WANT PAID SICK LEAVE.

AS OF WEDNESDAY MORNING, ONLY 76 PERCENT OF ALASKA’S PRECINCTS HAD REPORTED, SO THAT **COULD** CHANGE – BUT THE MEASURE IS STILL LIKELY TO PASS.

IT’S SIMILAR TO MISSOURI’S MEASURE… REQUIRING ONE HOUR OF PAID SICK LEAVE FOR EVERY 30 HOURS WORKED.

IT’LL REQUIRE SMALLER EMPLOYERS PROVIDE UP TO 5 DAYS PAID SICK LEAVE… AND LARGER ONES 7.

THE MEASURE ALSO RAISES THE STATE’S MINIMUM WAGE.

TO 15 DOLLARS PER HOUR BY 20-27.

CURRENTLY, ALASKA’S MINIMUM WAGE IS 11 DOLLARS AND 73 CENTS AN HOUR.