Advocates are currently proposing a ballot measure – titled “Albuquerque Healthy Workforce Ordinance” – that would require all employers to provide paid sick leave.
After careful review and consideration, the Association has come out against this ballot measure. As small business owners ourselves, we applaud employers that take care of their employees. Providing paid sick leave for employees is just common sense for established businesses.
We do not support the ballot measure primarily because:
- As written, the ballot measure is too broad reaching, does not take the special needs of new and small businesses into consideration.
- It is VERY difficult to amend or repeal ballot initiatives so we will be STUCK with this.
- The issue is too complex for the limited text description permitted on a ballot.
- Includes mandates and inflexible reporting which will add significant administrative burden to businesses no matter how small.
Please call your Bernalillo County Commissioner and ask that this NOT be added to this November's ballot, and instead, reserve the issue for the City Elections in October 2017.
District 1: Debbie O’Malley – (505) 468-7027 | district1@bernco.gov
District 2/Chair: Art De La Cruz – (505) 468-7448 | dherrera@bernco.gov
District 3: Maggie Hart Stebbins – (505) 468-7108 | district3@bernco.gov
District 4: Lonnie Talbert – (505) 468-7010 | district4@bernco.gov
District 5/Vice Chair: Wayne Johnson – (505) 468-7212 | tmadrid@bernco.gov
(Click here to find your district)
The economic growth of the Albuquerque-metro area is critical to the future of our housing market. As such, the Association supports smart, pro-growth, pro-jobs initiatives.
The speed in which advocates are trying turn this proposed Ordinance into a ballot measure does not allow enough time for all stakeholders to talk about the topic and resolve any unforeseen issues that could effect Albuquerque's economy.
To learn more about this issues, here are some quick links:
- The proposed Ballot Measure
- Summary from the Coalition for a Healthy Economy: “What YOU need to know about the proposed Albuquerque Healthy Workforce Initiative”
- http://www.abqjournal.com/805416/wrangling-over-paid-sick-leave-in-albuquerque.html
- http://www.abqjournal.com/805366/paid-sick-leave-proposal-can-only-hurt-albuquerque.html
If you have any questions about this or other government affairs issues, please contact us through leadership@gaar.com.
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