I am writing from a perspective of utter confusion. House Bill 64, which supports unpaid leave benefits to employees for COVID-19 purposes, was blocked last week. This bill protects individuals’ jobs in the event that they need to quarantine, provide home-schooling and a variety of other reasons why one may need to take unpaid time away from work.
These are unusual times and it is important we support people in ways that may never have been considered in the past. There was plenty of testimony in support for the bill, such as identifying how supporting sick employees to stay home (or to care for children who may be sick) ultimately will help to curb the pandemic. There was opposition to the bill (from three business lobbyists), but no testimony as to why there was opposition to it. Yet, this alone was enough to block it. I repeat: I am writing from a perspective of utter confusion.
BETH LUKAITIS
Warner