Pols demand mandatory sick leave in light of flu epidemic

With hundreds of New Yorkers under the weather from the flu surge, two potential mayoral candidates pressed for the passage of the mandatory sick leave bill.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio pushed for the City Council to pass the measure that was introduced more than three years ago.

By allowing New Yorkersto stay at home without losing a day's pay, the bill would help contain virus, de Blasio said at a news conference Saturday.

"They risk their pay and even their jobs if they stay home to care for themselves or someone in their family," he said in a statement.

The bill was geared toward employees who aren't guaranteed days off when they or their family members are ill.

Small businesses across the city aren't in favor of the bill because the lost days would cost their workers business and revenue.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn hasn't taken a stand on the bill. City Comptroller John Liu also pushed for the measure's passage.

"This is bad for business and it affects us all," he said in a statement last week.