Obama Plans to Weigh In on Paid Sick Leave for Contractors

President Obama is considering weighing in on paid sick leave for contractors, according to people familiar with the matter. An executive order currently being prepared by the White House would require federal contractors and subcontractors to give their employees a minimum of 7 paid sick days per year, which could also be used to care for sick relatives. The order would extend to victims of domestic violence or workers who needed counseling and sick leave that wasn't taken could also be accrued over the years. The president has been pushing for paid sick leave expansion since January, but has faced opposition from Republican-controlled Congress. The White House announced at the start of the year that over 40 million private sector workers have no kind of paid sick leave option to fall back on.