Page 6 - MidJersey Business - September 2014

{ MIDjerseychamber.org }

President’s

Message

LEAVE IT TO THE BUSINESSES

ver the past few years, our MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce has been

vocal on many issues that signiicantly afect the business community.

We are comprised of many small to mid-sized businesses and we will
continue to ight for their best interests. This includes recent legislation

to implement paid sick leave for all businesses.
While this movement began more than ive years ago in San Fran-
O
cisco, it has recently come to New Jersey’s doorstep with Newark and Jersey City
passing legislation that requires businesses to provide paid sick time of for employees.

The beneit of universal paid sick time is something every employer should strongly
consider independently; however, the government has made the decision for employers

in many cities across the country—tak-
ing business owners out of the decision

With government so heavily involved,
process altogether.
Much like the minimum wage issue last year, when our
businesses can no longer make crucial
government decided to move forward with a November
decisions for themselves in regard to
ballot question to change the state’s constitution to allow

hiring, firing, and providing beneits.
for minimum wage increased based on the consumer price

index (CPI), paid sick leave is an issue that should be determined by employers, not the government. With
government so heavily involved, businesses can no longer make crucial decisions for themselves in regard

to hiring, iring, and providing beneits; the government has made those decisions for them.
An example of this comes from a 2013 study by the Employment Policies Institute. The study found that

many businesses responded to a paid sick leave mandate by reducing paid leave, scaling back employee
beneits, cutting back on hours, reducing wages, or raising their overall prices. About 24 percent of employ-

ers that responded to the survey said they would hire fewer employees as a consequence of the law, with 10
percent admitting that the law had caused them to limit or restrict their expansion within the state.

The issue has now come to Trenton with voters this November—not business owners—to decide
the fate of paid sick time in the capital city. There is also the possible consideration by the New Jersey

State Legislature to make these local eforts a statewide movement and enact new laws supporting
paid sick leave for all employees. I strongly encourage all business owners and leaders in the commu-

nity to contact your elected oicials and voice these concerns for all businesses.

Robert D. Prunetti
President + CEO

Robert@MIDJerseyChamber.org

business.com
4 midJersey