Show-Me State Times

Alicia Seidler, the owner of Revision Christian Counseling in Saint Louis, has expressed her concerns over the implications of Proposition A, set to take effect on May 1. The new mandate will require businesses to provide paid sick leave to their employees.

Seidler's firm employs 15 staff members, all of whom work on a W2, commission-based structure. She has made conscientious efforts to support her team by offering health insurance, short-term disability coverage, and an IRA with a company match. In her endeavor, Seidler prioritizes maximizing the compensation received by her staff.

Seidler's employees appreciate the flexibility provided by their commission-based roles. They manage their schedules, choose when to take time off, and determine their earnings potential. For contingency situations such as surgeries, accidents, or prolonged illnesses that might keep them from work, Seidler provides insurance while employees save personally for vacation time and minor illnesses.

However, Seidler sees the new sick leave policy as a potential threat to her business's viability. "I am now faced with changing the split (meaning less money to my staff every month) or closing," she explained. If she maintains the current compensation structure but introduces paid sick leave at the prevailing hourly rate, Seidler fears financial instability. "I will go out of business," she added, highlighting that her counseling practice has weathered 13 years, including the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Seidler noted that her employees exhibited a preference for managing their own sick leave savings when she discussed possible changes with them. "None of them wanted me to act as their savings account. They like planning for that themselves," she stated.

According to Seidler, while paid sick leave might be suitable for salaried positions, it poses a challenge for commission-based businesses like hers. "It does not fit the business model," she commented, pointing out that her employees generally manage their sick days effectively and the company boasts strong staff retention.

With the upcoming change, Seidler is advocating for action. "Sick time is NOT a hardship for us now, but it WILL be with mandated sick leave. Please pass HB 567," she urged. Seidler pleads with policymakers not to impose measures that could jeopardize the current model that she believes is functioning well.