A small price to pay for sick leave

The California Chamber of Commerce is against the bill to require five paid sick-leave days a year. (“Feeling ill over sick leave,” July 5)

The chamber claims the expense to employers would cause layoffs, trumpeting their phony buzz word, “job killer.” How much would this bill cost a business? It is mostly low-wage workers who don’t have paid sick days. The yearly earnings of one minimum wage worker are $16,640. How does this add up to job loss? It doesn’t.

San Francisco reports no ill effects from its sick-pay law, and the minimum wage there is $9.36. This bill cannot kill anything, but if it does not pass, it might kill a few workers who should have seen a doctor before they became gravely ill.

Ira Spiro

Los Angeles