This situation highlights a significant gap between labor protections and their enforcement. While the 2019 law was meant to provide workers with guaranteed sick leave, the fact that companies are punishing employees for using their legally entitled time off undermines the law’s intent.
AB179 seems like an important step to protect workers under collective bargaining agreements from retaliation.
However, opposition from business groups and the Nevada Hospital Association shows the challenge of balancing workers’ rights with operational concerns.
The argument that excessive absences could impact patient safety in hospitals is worth considering, but penalizing workers for using legally granted sick days creates a culture where employees may feel forced to work while ill—potentially making things worse.