Workers in California are set to benefit from an expansion of paid sick leave, as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Wednesday. Under the law, which goes into effect in January, workers will be entitled to a minimum of five days of paid sick leave annually, up from three. The legislation also increases the amount of sick leave that can be carried over into the following year. Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health and well-being of workers, noting that many individuals are faced with the difficult choice of missing out on a day’s pay or taking care of themselves and their families when they fall ill.
Proponents of the sick leave legislation argue that it will not only prevent workers from having to choose between their health and their income, but also help to curb the spread of diseases and ensure that employees can be productive at work. However, the California Chamber of Commerce, which represents businesses across the state, expressed concerns that the law will place burdens on small businesses. The group’s president, Jennifer Barrera, stated that many small employers simply cannot absorb the additional cost and may be forced to reduce jobs, cut wages, or raise consumer prices as a result.
This new law is one of several major labor initiatives that have been introduced in the California Legislature this year. Other proposals have included raising wages for healthcare workers and allowing legislative staffers to unionize. Governor Newsom has already signed into law a measure increasing the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour. However, he recently vetoed a bill that would have granted unemployment benefits to striking workers, citing concerns about the state’s debt.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council praised the new law, asserting that it will help prevent the spread of deadly diseases. Andrea Zinder, president of the group’s Local 324 chapter, stated that the provision of five paid sick days is a step in the right direction and will help ensure that workers are not forced to jeopardize their livelihoods by coming to work while sick.
In addition to expanding paid sick leave, Governor Newsom signed another law on the same day to ban local governments from manually counting ballots in most cases. This legislation was a response to a rural Northern California county’s decision to stop using machines to count votes following unfounded allegations of fraud aimed at Dominion Voting Systems. The new law, which took immediate effect, requires local governments to use state-certified voting machines and only allows exceptions for certain elections with a small number of eligible voters.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who was a former local elections official and authored the law, described it as a necessary safeguard for California voters. The legislation has divided opinions in Shasta County, with County Clerk Cathy Darling Allen supporting the law as a protection for all California voters. The county had already purchased new equipment from Hart InterCivic following the termination of the contract with Dominion Voting Systems, ensuring that elections can proceed with electronic vote tabulation.
While hand counts of ballots are used in some jurisdictions for post-election tests, they are less common in larger jurisdictions with a higher number of registered voters. Nevertheless, the new law aims to provide clear guidelines and prevent potential manipulation of voting machines.
