Commissioners Steven Michael Quezada and Charlene Pyskoty are seeking to change the newly passed paid time off ordinance by creating different standards based on the size of the business. The amendments could reduce the mandates for smaller businesses, specifically reducing the requirements for those with fewer employees.
Quezada said he had reconsidered the idea, having done additional research and talked to more constituents, including small-business owners. Quezada said other jurisdictions, such as the city of Albuquerque, may follow the county’s paid leave lead and it was especially important to “get it right.”
These changes to the Bernalillo County paid leave ordinance are a step in the right direction to recognize the harm that ‘one size fits all’ government mandates do to small businesses. However, they wouldn’t have been necessary if more County Commissioners had voted against this unnecessary ordinance. NMBC appreciates the fact that Commissioner Pyscoty and Talbert voted against the original ordinance and that there now appears to be support to amend/improve the ordinance before it’s implemented in 2020. Read more HERE.