have had similar ordinances in place since 2017, and fears of devastating economic consequences never panned out.
“Thanks to this measure, workers have the peace of mind that they can take care of themselves today without worrying about the consequences tomorrow,” Gordon-Booth said. The pandemic was a clear sign that prioritizing workers is a necessary strategy for business owners, said Frausto, who hopes the lead-up to the law taking effect will give them time to budget and prepare.
Paid leave is something employees should earn, not be entitled to, she said. “I can’t say no. If if I have a big event coming up and everybody decides to take off, I’m in a world of hurt.” The pandemic, inflation, utility prices — “it just all seems to be piling up," and mandatory paid leave is now another hurdle for business owners.