Leave mandates sound compassionate, but can backfire on most vulnerable 

This summer, because of a 2014 referendum passed by nearly 60 percent of voters, Massachusetts became the latest state to require all businesses with 11 or more employees to provide paid sick leave. The policy sounds compassionate. Nobody wants to worry about losing a job or not being able to pay the bills during difficult times. And none of us want to see our friends or neighbors have to worry either.

This summer, because of a 2014 referendum passed by nearly 60 percent of voters, Massachusetts became the latest state to require all businesses with 11 or more employees to provide paid sick leave. The policy sounds compassionate. Nobody wants to worry about losing a job or not being able to pay the bills during difficult times. And none of us want to see our friends or neighbors have to worry either.…