Denver to vote on paid sick day initiative

Denver voters have an opportunity to decide whether businesses should provide compensation to employees who take time off work due to illnesses – a controversial topic that has turned into a tug-of-war between supporters and opponents of the proposed initiative.

In November, Denver residents will vote on Initiative 300, which requires businesses to provide one-hour paid sick time off for every 30 hours worked. The proposed initiative states that 38 percent of private sector workers in Denver lack paid sick days.

Opponents feel that the language in the initiative is too drastic and will cost business owners money and legal fees.

Supporters say that requiring businesses to pay workers for sick days will improve public health by reducing the spread of diseases at work and give parents and domestic partners opportunities to stay home with their loved ones who are sick.

LGBT supporters say that it allows gays and lesbians to take care of their partners who fall ill, and provides the transgender community to take paid time off for trans-related medical care.

“Personally, as a lesbian myself, to know that my job would be protected if I needed to take care of my partner if she’s sick, since I’m not able to get married, is an added benefit for me knowing I have that protection,” said Erin Bennett, the Colorado director of 9to5 National Association of Working Women, an organization that supports the initiative.

One Colorado, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization, also wants to see the initiative pass.

“In Colorado, gay and lesbian couples lack the basic legal protections to provide for and take care of one another,” said Brad Clark, executive director of One Colorado. “This lack of protection leaves our committed, loving couples vulnerable because many employers do not recognize same-sex partners or their children as family for critical benefits such as paid sick days.”

But both Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock have publicly opposed the ordinance, along with the Colorado Restaurant Association, which represents 4,500 restaurants through its membership.

“There are really some primary problems with this that we’re opposed to,” said Pete Meersman, president and CEO of the association. “The way that it’s written, an employee doesn’t have to give any notice to take leave. Imagine running a restaurant and you don’t know who is going to show up.”

The initiative states that 72 percent of of workers in Denver who work in the food service industry lack paid sick days. Yet Meersman said it’s not as big of a problem as initiative supporters make it out to be, as restaurant workers who fall ill usually just trade shifts with another employee.

“What I’m hearing from the restaurant employees is that if someone doesn’t show up without notice, then they have to work double stations,” Meersman said. “Customer service suffers. Instead of taking five or six tables you’re taking eight.”

The issue has circulated the Colorado legislature twice and both times it was quashed.

If passed, Denver would be the fourth city in the United States to pass such an ordinance.