A variety of troubling proposals that threaten to impede an already slow economic recovery remain up for debate as the Massachusetts Legislature prepares to end formal sessions on July 31.

AIM has consistently opposed proposals that would place costs, burdens and challenges on ability of employers to retain and grow jobs in the commonwealth. Cost burdens are especially dangerous at a time when confidence among Massachusetts employers took its second-largest one-month drop in history during June.

Three pending bills raise particular concern:

1. Mandatory paid sick days – A redrafted mandated sick-time bill would require companies with fewer than six employees to provide unpaid sick time, and all other employers to offer paid sick time. The bill comes with a host of new workplace regulations. (Read AIM’s blogs)
2. Workplace bullying ” A bill that vaguely seeks to define “workplace bullying, mobbing and harassment” would stifle normal workplace coaching and critiques and invite frivolous litigation.
3. Weakening of non-competition agreements ” Various bills would weaken an employer’s ability to protect business and trade secrets through private-party contracts such as non-compete agreements.  The current legal protections are particularly important here in Massachusetts, where technology and innovation fuel a significant share of economic growth. (Read AIM’s blogs)

Not exactly the sort of bills you would include as part of an effective strategy to encourage job creators to invest in Massachusetts.  These proposals would, in fact, cause just the sort of bureaucratic tangle that discourages employers from adding the jobs that thousands of unemployed residents of the commonwealth so desperately need.

Let’s not give Massachusetts employers and (companies seeking to locate and invest in here) a reason to leave or say “No thanks” to Massachusetts.  Our collective efforts must be focused on job creation public policy for the residents of the commonwealth.

To learn more about these and other HR-employment legislative proposals pending before the Legislature please contact Bradley A. MacDougall by email (bmacdougall@aimnet.org) or calling 617-262-1180.