Paid Sick Leave Getting Off the Ground in Tacoma

by Marilyn P. Watkins, Policy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute
 
Healthy Tacoma’s Paid Sick Days campaign got off to a lively start last night. A fired-up crowd of more than 150 cheered as City Councilmember Anders Ibsen promised to introduce legislation in the next couple weeks.  A former restaurant worker, a small business owner, a neonatal nurse, and state legislator Laurie Jinkins shared their perspectives on why all workers should be able to earn paid sick time.
 
The Healthy Tacoma proposal would allow all workers in the city to earn between 5 and 13 paid sick days per year. An estimated 40,000 people working in the city don’t earn paid sick leave now.
Initial media coverage has been great:

King 5 TV

Tacoma group pushes paid sick leave ordinance KPLU | 5.30.2013

Paid Sick Days Next for Tacoma? WA News Service | 5.30.2013

Group seeks sick leave for all who work in Tacoma Tacoma News Tribune | 5.30.2013

The Stand: Campaigns begin for fast-food employees, all Tacoma workers

For more info, see http://healthytacoma.net/. And be sure to like the campaign on Facebook.

Help Available for Seattle’s Paid Sick/Safe Time Ordinance

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has posted a new and expanded Frequently Asked Questions document to its Paid Sick and Safe Time web site. The FAQ provides answers to questions that employers and employees have been asking since the ordinance was implemented on September 1, 2012.

SOCR also offers direct technical assistance to employers who write or phone with questions about how to implement the Ordinance. Have a question about PSST? Call 206-684-4500 or e-mail psstquestions@seattle.gov.

Visit the Paid Sick and Safe Time web site for links to:

• a brochure
• aposter for employers to put up in a lunchroom or on a bulletin board;
• the full version of the Ordinance;
• the Administrative Rules, which clarify a number of details about the Ordinance;
• a downloadable PowerPoint presentation.

Perspective by Louise: Paid Sick Leave, the right thing to do but can small businesses afford it?

Many of you are aware that the City of Seattle is considering an ordinance on Paid Sick Leave. This Ordinance will affect all GSBA members, whether you are a business owner or an employee. GSBA has members in favor of as well as opposed to this issue. GSBA has been actively engaged in discussions on this policy and have tried to represent your concerns. Whatever your position, I encourage you to base your decision on accurate information by attending a free, educational forum on this issue on Tuesday, July 26 from 5:30-7:00pm. The Forum is sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chamber, co-sponsored by GSBA and many of our friends from the other neighborhood Chamber and Business Associations (both opponents and supporters).

The recent results of the GSBA member survey on Paid Sick Leave showed members were split on the issue, with more members opposed. However, your comments showed strong support for employees being able to stay home if they are sick, and without the fear of losing their job. In addition, many of you reported you already offer paid health insurance, paid sick leave, paid time off or shift changes so employees avoid losing income. Many of you added comments that you believed paid sick leave is "the right thing to do" but, were worried about keeping your doors open in a still struggling economy.

Without a clear mandate from our membership, GSBA will not take a position advocating either for or against the policy. As a result of the feedback from GSBA and other business leaders, the proposed ordinance has already been significantly modified to address the concerns of small businesses. We understand there are still other concerns, which is why we encourage you to register for this Paid Sick leave seminar. Space is limited, so per-registration is required.

Your success is our business,

Louise

GSBA Co-Sponsored Paid Sick Leave Forum

Seattle Center

Tuesday, July 26

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Free

http://paidsickleaveforum.eventbrite.com/