An article in Stateline notes that New York City has joined the handful of jurisdictions that require employers to provide paid sick leave for their employees. The article highlights the controversial nature of such mandates, which are in effect in San Francisco, Washington DC, Connecticut and Seattle. Portland adopted paid sick leave in March; it will take effect in January. New York City’s measure will be effective next April.

As the article notes, and as we noted in this policy brief, Milwaukee voted for paid sick leave, but it was legally challenged and the Wisconsin legislature later passed a bill prohibiting local governments from mandating paid sick leave. Additionally, according to Stateline,

Kansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Arizona have approved laws banning local sick leave ordinances. In Florida, a ban approved by lawmakers is awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature, and a similar measure is pending in the Michigan Legislature—even though no city in Michigan has approved a sick leave law.

Also,

When Philadelphia approved a paid leave law in March, Mayor Michael Nutter, a Democrat, vetoed the measure, citing the threat to the local economy. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has owned businesses, is also opposed to the idea, but the council approved the new law with a veto-proof majority.

The issue certainly remains controversial in Washington, as evidenced by the introduction of several contradictory bills on the subject during the regular session. Under ESB 5726 (passed by the Senate), a city would not be able to
require employers to provide paid sick leave unless the employers are located
within the city. SHB 1313 (passed by the House Appropriations Committee) would mandate paid sick leave for the entire state. Under SB 5728 (passed by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee), state law would preempt any local government paid sick leave mandate.

Supporters of the mandates say they have momentum nationally, but states have banned such mandates as often as other jurisdictions have adopted them. No wonder paid sick leave advocates, per Stateline, say “city-based campaigns have proven to be the most promising.”