Small firms find sick time law tough to digest. Owners uneasy about, cite potential flaws with new sick time regulations

The Boston Globe reports:

Olive Chase has built a thriving catering business on Cape Cod, arranging everything from cheeseburger buffets on the beach to five-course meals for wealthy museum donors.

In her nearly 30 years at the helm of the Casual Gourmet, Chase has had to adapt to some major shifts in business regulations, but the complex sick time law going into effect July 1 is turning out to be the biggest challenge yet.

“I feel like I’m in a vise right now,” Chase said. “This is a major change to our work and labor hours. Major. My HR department is me and my bookkeeper. I’m not Walmart here.”

Passed by voters in a ballot measure last fall, the law requires that companies with 11 or more employees give workers up to 40 hours of paid sick time a year. Those with fewer than 11 may offer it unpaid. The law applies to all employees, including part-time and seasonal workers, giving 1 million more workers access to sick leave across the state and allowing them to accrue one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.

Business owners have turned out in droves for informational seminars about the law to express concern, confusion, even outrage. A number of those who own small companies mistakenly believe the law doesn’t apply to them, industry groups say, and many of these small operations don’t have a human resources director who can decipher the complex regulations issued by the state.

The war on small business. How creepy is it that some politicians are going to tell you how to manage your workforce?