Editor’s note: This commentary is by Randy George, who is co-owner of Red Hen Baking Co. in Middlesex.
I recently had a once in a lifetime experience. On Tuesday, April 14, at 2 p.m., I received a call from the White House and exactly 48 hours later I found myself shaking hands with President Obama.
What was this all about? The event I attended was part of the White House’s Champions of Change series that they have been running since 2010 to highlight work that ordinary citizens around the country are doing in their communities. The intent of last week’s event was to champion workplace policies that help women and children. Through some kind of incredible good luck, I was selected to participate as a small business owner from Vermont who has spoken out in support of paid sick days legislation and an increase in the minimum wage, among other things.
I was most inspired by our meeting with Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and by hearing the president speak. At the highest levels of our federal government, there is an understanding that it’s time for this nation to acknowledge the realities facing working families in the 21st century. We take the 40-hour work week and minimum wage laws for granted. But these are laws that were enacted 100 years ago. They were enacted when most women did not have careers; when families could get by on a single income. We all know that those days are gone. For me, hearing firsthand that our president and secretary of labor understand that it’s time to update workplace policies so that they acknowledge these realities was very inspiring.
Our experience at Red Hen Baking Co. is proof that providing for employees and acknowledging the challenges of raising a family in these times is good business.
Right now, in Vermont, we are considering such a law in the Legislature. House bill H.187, The Healthy Workplaces bill, would ensure that workers who must miss work because of illness or to care for an ill family member would be able to take this time without facing the impossible reality of losing income or their job. The bill currently before our Legislature has some important revisions from the similar one proposed in 2013. Specifically, H.187 is the result of a series of conversations that took place over the last several months with business owners who had concerns with earlier paid sick days proposals. Many of those who were opposed to the old bill — including Gov. Shumlin — have come out in support of H.187 because they can see that it both addresses the needs of working Vermonters and responds to the concerns of the business community.
I have been asked numerous times (including at the White House) to speak publicly about how paid sick days would not hurt — and could even help — businesses. Our experience at Red Hen Baking Co. is proof that providing for employees and acknowledging the challenges of raising a family in these times is good business. I know from experience that happy employees are productive employees. And happy, productive employees tend to stay with you. When we are concerned about keeping young people in Vermont as they embark on their careers, we must also not overlook the fact that legislation that supports working families will be a boon to Vermont’s economy.
Most importantly, I believe that this is simply the right thing to do. Businesses contribute to their communities in all kinds of ways. One of the most important contributions they can make is to provide good, steady employment to those that make our businesses run every day. If a business depends on exploiting people in order to be profitable, I believe that it needs to challenge itself to correct that problem.
For all of these reasons, I encourage the Vermont House to pass H.187 and I hope that the Senate will move it forward from there. To my fellow Vermonters in the Legislature, I ask you to please stand with me and help ensure that every workplace in Vermont provides at least a minimum standard of paid time off so that everyone can balance work, family, and health.
