For Immediate Release
Washington, DC – The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) submitted comments to the Albany County Legislature on a proposed local law that would provide paid sick time to employees working in Albany County.
In its comments, ERIC asked the Legislature to make several revisions that without them would increase the compliance and financial burdens on large employers that already provide paid leave to employees in the county, the state, and other jurisdictions. Those revisions, include:
- Changing the currently broad definition of “family member” to that of the more common definition used by other states and localities that defines family member as a child, spouse, parent, legal guardian, grandparents, and grandchildren
- Lowering the minimum amount of earned sick time provided from 72 hours to at least 56 hours for large employers
- Changing the proposed carryover and frontloading policies so that they do not require an employer to allow an employee to carryover unused earned sick time if the employer awards the employee the full amount of earned sick time at the beginning of each year
“ERIC members –many of whom have employees in Albany County –need clear, concise, and consistent paid leave laws to ensure they remain in compliance,” said Will Hansen, Senior Vice President of Retirement and Compensation Policy, ERIC. “Large employers work hard to provide paid leave benefits to their employees and should not be burdened with additional and excessive administrative, compliance, and reporting requirements if their own leave policies already satisfy or exceed the purpose behind the new law.”