Efforts by Gov. Ted Strickland to broker a compromise on a proposal to mandate paid sick days came to and end Wednesday, and the issue is likely headed for the November ballot.
A story from the AP says, a coalition of community organizations and labor groups, including the Service Employees International Union, is pushing for a ballot issue that would require most employers to provide paid sick days for Ohio workers. The business community has said such a mandate would increase costs and lead to a loss of jobs and productivity.
Strickland had sought a compromise agreeable to both sides instead of leaving it to voters.
The proposal would require businesses with 25 or more employees to provide full-time workers at least seven paid sick days each year.
Supporters of the mandate, which include organized labor, are gathering signatures to qualify the issue for the Nov. 4 election. They say 2 million Ohioans don't have any paid time off when they or a family member is sick.
But opponents point to research conducted on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio that says the state stands to lose 75,000 jobs over five years if voters approve the issue.
