Quinn Signs On to Paid Sick Leave --- Speaker Works to Add Business Concerns in City Council Bill; Requirement Would be Suspended If the Economy Falters
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn agreed Thursday to back a deal on long-stalled legislation that would require New York City businesses with 20 or more employees to provide five paid sick days beginning next year.</br></br>"Throughout these negotiations I have always said that I was willing to listen and engage all sides," Ms. Quinn said Thursday evening. "We now have a piece of legis lation that balances the interests of workers, small-business owners and local mom-and-pop proprietors across this city."</br></br>Ms. Quinn's decision to sign onto the legislation comes amid escalating pressure on the front-runner in the Democratic mayoral primary. The liberal wing of her party largely backed the legislation and criticized her unwillingness to put forward the measure for a vote.</br></br>The legislation would mandate that businesses with 20 employees or more provide five paid sick days beginning on April 1, 2014. Those with fewer workers would be required to offer at least five unpaid sick days with job protection.</br></br>Beginning Oct. 1, 2015, the law would expand to require five days of paid sick leave at businesses with 15 or more employees.