Chamber: Potential Expansion of Leave Law Would Hurt Businesses Facing Slashed Profits, Income Amid COVID-19

By Sarah Downey in Northern California Record

A new bill that would make small businesses subject to the same family leave law as large companies would adversely impact the California business community at a time it is already struggling under the COVID-19 economic decline and new shut down orders, a trade group coalition says.

SB 1383, which passed the Senate earlier this month, would require businesses with five or more workers to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave; the current law applies to businesses with 50 or more employees.

“It’s happening when businesses can least afford it and presents a particular burden to small businesses by lowering the threshold from 50 to five,” Jennifer Barrera, CalChamber executive vice president, told the Northern California Record. “There’s no question we’re in an economic crisis due to the coronavirus, and the governor on Monday shutting down businesses again adds to their very precarious position. This bill is one more obstacle on their ability to maintain their operations.”

Continue reading on Northern California Record at https://norcalrecord.com/stories/543182100-chamber-potential-expansion-of-leave-law-would-hurt-businesses-facing-slashed-profits-income-amid-covid-19.

The California Chamber of Commerce is the largest, broad-based business advocate to government in California, working at the state and federal levels to influence government actions affecting all California business. As a not-for-profit, we leverage our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations to provide affordable and easy-to-use compliance products and services.