Show-Me State Times

Susan Lakebrink-Nemish, co-owner of MotoTireUSA, has expressed concerns regarding Proposition A, a recently mandated sick time policy. She noted that the policy may impact their small business's ability to provide benefits, such as paid vacation, to their employees. Lakebrink-Nemish explained that their business operates with thin margins, typical of small businesses, which makes it challenging to meet the new requirements.

"Our business absolutely values employees and wants to support them in times of genuine illness. However, we’re deeply concerned that this mandate will force us to reduce or even eliminate other hard-earned benefits like vacation time," she stated.

Lakebrink-Nemish highlighted that small businesses lack the resources for oversight and management that larger corporations have, which might lead to the abuse of sick time. She said, "We fear this policy will become a substitute for vacation time, placing further strain on our already limited staff and resources."

She further noted that MotoTireUSA is not yet able to offer health care and is already burdened by taxes and other costs. "We’re already paying around 41% in taxes. Adding yet another mandate without exemptions or scaling for small businesses like ours only pushes us further away from sustainability," she argued.

In her commentary, Lakebrink-Nemish urged policymakers to consider how such mandates are applied, advocating for flexibility or exemptions for small businesses. "We’re not asking to do less for our employees—we’re asking for the chance to grow into the kind of business that can do more, without being buried before we get there," she concluded.