The idea of requiring most businesses to offer paid sick leave for their employees has been gaining traction in Annapolis in recent years, and Mr. Hogan's decision to back a version of the legislation should put it front and center during this year's session. We are sympathetic to the argument for such a requirement, particularly on public health grounds. The norovirus outbreaks last year tied to sick workers at Chipotle restaurants are an indication of what a bad idea it is to have a system in which food service employees feel compelled to come to work when they're ill. However, we are also concerned about the potential impact on businesses and whether costs associated with the benefit could be absorbed without reducing wages or work hours. Mr. Hogan has added a new wrinkle to the debate by proposing that the requirement be limited to businesses with more than 50 employees but that smaller firms who choose to offer the benefit be eligible for state income tax breaks. It's an intriguing idea, and one that hasn't been tried elsewhere. Lawmakers will need to study it closely to determine how effective it would be in meeting the goal of expanding paid sick leave to workers who don't have it and how costly it would be for the state.