New York City is poised to become the most populous place in the United States to compel businesses to provide paid sick time.

The City Council is expected to override a mayoral veto Wednesday night to pass a sick leave law. An estimated 1 million workers would get up to five paid sick days annually. Hundreds of thousands of others would get unpaid sick time.

Paid sick time requirements already exist in Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Seattle; Washington, D.C.; and the state of Connecticut.

Advocates say workers shouldn’t have to choose between health and money. Supporters also say paid sick time can stop employees from spreading germs to customers and colleagues.

Opponents say that such laws burden businesses and that sick time arrangements should be left to workers and bosses.

(AP)