Gov. Shumlin Statement on Senate Action on Earned Sick Leave Legislation

Statement

Gov. Peter Shumlin issued the following statement after the Senate gave initial approval to earned sick leave legislation.

"This is a big step forward for employees, employers, and all Vermonters. Most Vermonters agree that those who are sick shouldn't be going to work and potentially infecting others. With 90 percent of food workers nationwide reporting that they go to work sick -- and 65 percent of foodborne illnesses resulting from the handling of food by someone who is sick -- this is as much a public health issue as it is one that reflects our values as Vermonters. The question has been about how we construct legislation to protect public health and put those values into practice. The bill voted on by the Senate today does that. I want to thank the entire Senate for their hard work, and especially Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell for his leadership in moving this bill forward. The House did good work on this issue by passing a similar bill last year, and I am hopeful they will work with the Senate to get a bill to my desk quickly."

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