Quinn Negotiates Deal on a Paid Sick Leave Bill

Working with a local services union, New York City Council Speaker and mayoral candidate Christine Quinn on Thursday helped broker a compromise that would mandate thousands of companies provide paid time off for one million New Yorkers who do not currently have such benefits, reported The New York Times.

The new measure passes after three years of resistance from the Council Speaker, who insisted that such a mandate would hurt employers.

Quinn recently reversed course and initiated negotiations under increased pressure from her opponents in the race for mayor, all of whom accused her of pandering to the business community, despite the measure's widespread public support.

The new legislation would require companies with 15 employees or more to give full-time workers five compensated days off a year when they are ill, without fear of losing a day’s wage — or worse, a job.

It would not take effect until spring 2014, and for the first 18 months, it would apply only to businesses with 20 or more employees, the paper reported.

The measure is subject to a vote by the City Council. Mr. Bloomberg is expected to veto the measure, but there is enough support on the Council to override his veto, reported the paper.