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Inquiring Photographer: Weighing In On Sick Pay Law

By DAVID GREENE

This week we picked readers’ brains on a new law that will expand paid sick leave to 500,000 small business workers.

They’re working, and they get sick, and it's law that they will get paid? I think that's absolutely wonderful. Yes, I'd like a law like that for the working people because they have to stay home for two or three days and lose their pay. --Mary Leon
They’re working, and they get sick, and it’s law that they will get paid? I think that’s absolutely wonderful. Yes, I’d like a law like that for the working people because they have to stay home for two or three days and lose their pay.
–Mary Leon
 I don't think it's good for small business owners because if I have to pay you six sick days, I'd actually be taking a loss because I don't make that much to begin with. So if I have to pay my worker $50 for the day to stay home and I'm only bringing in $100 or $150 minus the cost of the merchandise, I'd only be going home with $40 or $50 myself. So I couldn't feed the family and I'd go bankrupt. --Jose Serrano
I don’t think it’s good for small business owners because if I have to pay you six sick days, I’d actually be taking a loss because I don’t make that much to begin with. So if I have to pay my worker $50 for the day to stay home and I’m only bringing in $100 or $150 minus the cost of the merchandise, I’d only be going home with $40 or $50 myself. So I couldn’t feed the family and I’d go bankrupt.
–Jose Serrano
I believe Mayor (Bill) de Blasio is a great man and I value his opinion. These workers are important to this city and the country and they need to get paid if they are too sick to work; they deserve that. I support that completely. --Syed Mohammad Abbas
I believe Mayor (Bill) de Blasio is a great man and I value his opinion. These workers are important to this city and the country and they need to get paid if they are too sick to work; they deserve that. I support that completely.
–Syed Mohammad Abbas
It's good if they get paid when they’re sick because they still need to pay their rent, pay bills and buy food. It's a great idea. If they come to work sick, they will also get the other workers sick. MD Babul Aktar
It’s good if they get paid when they’re sick because they still need to pay their rent, pay bills and buy food. It’s a great idea. If they come to work sick, they will also get the other workers sick.
MD Babul Aktar
Our workers get sick and the owner here pays them. Yes, it's a very good thing. --Hany Ayad
Our workers get sick and the owner here pays them. Yes, it’s a very good thing.
–Hany Ayad

 

Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.

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