COLUMBUS, Ohio ? A new study commissioned by a small business group says Ohio would lose 75,000 jobs in the next five years if voters approve a ballot issue that would give most full-time workers seven paid sick days a year.
The research conducted on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business in Ohio says 20 percent of those job losses would occur in businesses that employ one to 20 employees, even though those businesses would not be required to offer the sick days under the ballot proposal.
Bruce Phillips, an expert hired to conduct the research, said Tuesday the sick day mandate would force larger businesses to cut jobs or production, and that would hurt small business suppliers.
Supporters of the ballot issue, including several big labor unions, say 2 million Ohioans don't have any paid sick leave for themselves or their families.
