Obama announces executive order on paid sick leave

In Boston on Monday, President Obama announced an executive order requiring that federal contractors offer employees up to seven paid sick days annually.

Obama shared the news at a Labor Day breakfast hosted by the Greater Boston Labor Council, telling the crowd, "Right now, you have parents who have to choose between losing income or staying home with a sick child." For every 30 hours worked, full-time and part-time employees on new contracts starting in 2017 will earn one hour of sick leave, up to a maximum of seven days a year, White House officials said. About 300,000 people could benefit from the order.

Several Republicans say Obama is overstepping his authority, a claim rejected by administration officials. Before the president's visit to Boston, Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said in a conference call with reporters that the U.S. is the only "country where the issue of paid family leave has become a partisan issue. Everyone else in the world has recognized how common sense this is."

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