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New Bill Looks To Make Paid Sick Days Mandatory In Michigan

DETROIT (WWJ) -- A new bill introduced in Lansing would make paid sick days mandatory in Michigan.

Newly elected Detroit democratic state representative Stephanie Chang of District 6 in Detroit -- who introduced the legislation, House Bill 4167 -- said that granting paid sick leave to Michigan workers is not only economically beneficial, it is the right thing to do.

"The vast majority of Michiganders support paid sick leave -- 86 percent -- including Republicans, over 80 percent of Republicans when polled actually support paid sick days," Chang said. "I think it's because it's such a common sense solution, people understand, especially because it affects so many of us on a day-to-day level."

Chang said that she is hoping to have a hearing on her bill this spring in Lansing. She said that 1.5 million workers across the state -- nearly half of the private sector workforce -- currently does not get paid sick time.

"Michigan would not be the first, there has been many other cities and states that have enacted paid sick days and in a lot of cases we're seeing that a lot of businesses actually realize that this is good," Chang said.

Among those publicly supporting the legislation is Rev. Stancy Adams of Detroit's Russell Street Missionary Baptist Church.

"It's just morally unacceptable for us not to care about the whole human being," Adams said.

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