Analysis Finds Governor’s Sick Leave Bill Protects 240,000 Fewer Maryland Workers
A new analysis from the Maryland Center on Economic Policy (MDCEP) finds that the original earned sick days bill, known as the Healthy Working Families Act (House Bill 1/Senate Bill 230), would guarantee earned paid sick leave to nearly twice as many people as a new proposal from Gov. Larry Hogan (House Bill 382/Senate Bill 305).
Under the Healthy Working Families Act, an estimated 512,000 working Marylanders who currently have to choose between their health or caring for a sick child and making ends meet, would gain access to paid sick days. It also extends protections to workers at small businesses, allowing them to take unpaid sick leave without putting their jobs at risk. By comparison, the governor’s proposal would only extend paid sick leave to 272,000 people, at most, and would provide no protections for other workers.
“With nearly 40 percent of Maryland’s workforce currently unable to take paid time off when they get sick, it is essential that the legislation passed covers as many people as possible,” MDCEP Executive Director Benjamin Orr said. “Ensuring broad access to paid sick days would benefit Maryland’s economy, reduce health care costs, increase productivity, and prevent working families from having to choose between their health and their job.”
Additional details on MDCEP’s analysis are included in our newly released fact sheet. The Maryland Center on Economic Policy is a member of the Working Matters coalition supporting earned sick days legislation in Maryland.
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About Maryland Center on Economic Policy
The Maryland Center on Economic Policy advances innovative policy ideas to foster broad prosperity and help our state be the standard-bearer for responsible public policy. We engage in research, analysis, strategic communications, public education, and grassroots alliances promoting robust debate and greater public awareness of the policy choices Maryland residents face together.
