Sean Mulkerrin reports in the Altamont Enterprise that a proposed law that would have required Albany County employers to provide paid sick time to their workers was voted down last week. Eleven Democrats joined with ten Republicans to vote down the proposal, 21 to 17. Under the proposal, workers employed in Albany County for more than 80 hours in a calendar year would earn an hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, capped at 40 hours. Businesses with six or more workers would have to pay the sick time, but companies with five or fewer employees, would not. Mark Emanation, a senior field coordinator for the Capital District Area Labor Federation, said, “We believe that working people have the right, if they’re sick, to take a day off.” Most legislators, though, worried about driving local businesses to other counties. Westchester County and New York City have paid-sick-leave laws, but not the rest of the state. Read more about this story in the Altamont Enterprise.