This summer, when the Duluth City Council was putting together a task force to study whether to require private businesses to give employees paid sick days off from work, the News Tribune, in an editorial, urged councilors to “go slow.”
While some statistics suggest the benefit isn’t offered as often as some workers and others may like, “Are the numbers legit?” the editorial asked, echoing the questions and concerns of many that still persist. “Do they paint an accurate picture? How many employees without paid sick days are part time, seasonal, temporary or in other positions that historically haven’t received such a benefit? How many work for small companies that couldn’t afford it or for their families and shouldn’t expect it? What would happen to businesses and their bottom lines - and their ability to employ anyone here - if they were forced by (the) government … to broaden the benefit?”
Also, shouldn’t such benefits be negotiated as a part of a contract? Is government intrusion here really necessary?
“Clearly, whether to enact a law mandating private business owners to offer earned sick and safe time to employees is complicated and in need of serious investigation, thorough research and indisputable, transparent numbers,” the editorial continued. “That seems even more clear considering the backlash and legal challenges that followed new sick-and-safe-time laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul this year.”
Nearly half a year later, there’s good news: The City Council and its task force are, indeed, going slowly. The task force met for only the third time last week, as the News Tribune’s Business page reported Monday. More meetings are planned into the new year along with opportunities the public shouldn’t ignore to offer feedback and input.
Duluthians can hope the slow pace isn’t just the usual speed of government at work but is, rather, reflective of taking the time necessary to thoroughly research the issue, its details, its nuances and its consequences, both intended and not.
The makeup of the task force certainly suggests many sides are being considered. Members include representatives from the business community, the general public, labor, the hospitality industry, health care, human resources and economic development. The task force also includes a domestic violence or sexual assault professional and someone from an organization that helps working families.
The task force can determine first whether Duluth has a problem so severe it requires government intervention. And it can explore whether most businesses in Duluth and greater Duluth aren’t already trying to do right by their employees, recognizing the importance of keeping good workers happy so they don’t go elsewhere. The task force already is investigating how other communities are approaching this issue.
Requiring paid sick and safe time may be the right thing to do, as some city councilors already have decided and have insisted. Or it could prove harmful to local businesses as well as Duluth’s business reputation. We really don’t know yet, not until the task force takes the time necessary to do the research, to consider the fallout from whatever decision it makes and to really hear from the public.
All that takes time. Continuing to go slow continues to be solid advice.
Keep tabs
Agendas and meeting minutes for Duluth’s Earned Sick and Safe Time Task Force are posted at the city’s website
at duluthmn.gov/boards-commissions/earned-sick-and-safe-time-task-force
