THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

180

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

SD1

STATE OF HAWAII

Proposed

   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the legislative reference bureau to perform a cost analysis and feasibility study of requiring employers to allow employees to uSE accrued sick leave to take care of family members who are ill.

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii has a high percentage of two-wage earner families and a particularly high number of these families include school age children; and

WHEREAS, these parents have a difficult time balancing their schedules when family members are well; and

WHEREAS, when a parent, child, spouse, or reciprocal beneficiary becomes seriously ill, employees must use vacation time off to care for these individuals, as most employers do not allow employees to take their own sick leave to attend to sick family members; and

WHEREAS, the intention of vacation leave was to provide respite and relaxation from the stresses experienced while performing job-related duties during the normal course of business; and

WHEREAS, employees who are taking vacation leave to care for ill family members do not rest and relax while caring for their ill family member; and

WHEREAS, employees are faced with added stress by having to take vacation leave not only because of the work they have missed, but also, because they become concerned that using their vacation leave may lead to future problems with regards to caring for their children during school breaks later in the year; and

WHEREAS, employees also worry about the added cost of sending a child to a child care facility if they are unable to take vacation leave to oversee their children during school breaks; and

WHEREAS, some employers have recognized this problem and have allowed their employees to use their accrued sick leave to care for close relatives; and

WHEREAS, this alternative appears to be humane and sensible and recognizes the reality that employees need to care for their young children, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, or elderly parents when they become ill, without the fear of being penalized for doing so; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) is requested to perform a cost analysis and feasibility study of requiring employers to allow employees to use accrued sick leave to take care of family members who are ill; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that LRB shall submit its written findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of LRB.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to perform a cost analysis and feasibility study of requiring employers to allow employees to use accrued sick leave to take care of family members who are ill.