Problem:
40% of private sector workers – over 40 million people – do not have access to paid sick time. 70% low-wage workers whose earnings are in the bottom 25% of earners, lack access to paid sick time. And among those employed in the accommodation and food services, 75% must choose between losing pay and showing up to work sick or leaving a sick child at home alone.
DOL – Get the Facts on Paid Sick Time
Solutions:
Pass a municipal and/or state paid sick leave law for private sector employees similar to other states and cities:
- Paid sick leave may be used for family members: children; parents; grandchildren; grandparents; spouses; registered domestic partners; siblings; organ donations
- eligible after 90 days
- 1 hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked for both full time and part time employees
- 100% of pay for non-exempt and exempt employees
- Tipped employees will be paid $7.25 for sick leave hours
- Law applies to companies with 10 or more employees
- Workers are entitled to carry forward up to 40 hours of unused paid sick time
- Workers would be entitled to paid sick leave regardless of age
- The City of Houston Office of Inspector General would be in charge of violations similar to other U.S. cities
- Explore the different possibilities for non-profit employers such as but not limited to number of employees among other things.
- Cities and/or states could require companies that meet FMLA guidelines to provide 10 paid sick days annually
- Amend the Texas constitution to allow voters to use paid sick leave to vote in local and state wide elections (similar to 23 states)
- Allow employees to take up to 5 days of paid sick leave without a doctors note.
- Make Houston and Texas republicans look stupid by passing 5 days of job-protected, unpaid sick leave for companies with more than 20 employees similar to Alberta
Texas Constitution
Code – Local Government Code
Chapter – 234 County Regulation of Local Businesses and Occupations
Code – Election Code
Chapter – 276 Miscellaneous Offenses and Other Provisions
Section – 276.004 Unlawfully Prohibiting Employee from Voting
CATO – To Grow Our Economy, Start with Paid Leave
Workers’ Access to Paid Sick Days in the States
Think Progress – Ten States Have Banned Cities And Counties From Passing Paid Sick Days
Think Progress – Lawmakers Unanimously Approve Country’s Most Robust Paid Sick Leave Law
DOL – Here’s What 6 Businesses Have to Say About Paid Leave
Because 43 million people – nearly 40 percent of the workforce – don’t have a single paid sick day.
Dallas News – Paid sick leave is next fight for low-earning workers
National Partnership – Paid Sick Days Lead to Cost Savings for All
National Partnership – Workers’ Access to Paid Sick Days in the States
Paid Sick Days and Health: Cost Savings from Reduced Emergency Department Visits
The Atlantic – What Makes D.C.’s Universal Leave Plan So Special?
Minneapolis weighs sweeping new rules for sick time, work schedules
CBS – Massachusetts Part-Time Workers Can Start Accruing Paid Sick Time July 1
City of Seattle – Paid Sick Time and Safe Time Ordinance
Post Gazette – Challenges expected to [Pittsburgh] paid sick leave law
NJ Business Journal – Jersey City passes bill expanding paid sick leave to smallest firms’ workers
Tempe could become first Arizona city to pass paid sick-leave ordinance
Arizona Daily Star – Tucson seeks opinions on plan for sick leave
Spokane City Council overrides veto, requires employers to provide paid sick leave
Legislation to guarantee paid sick leave to (most) Vermont workers to advance
Princeton City Council hears renewed calls for paid sick leave ordinance
Obama official encourages Vermont to adopt paid sick leave bill
New Jersey – Plainfield passes paid sick leave ordinance
City of San Francisco – Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Lawmakers push sick leave for all New Jersey workers
Baltimore Sun – Paid sick leave bill gains key approval in House
Chicago Tribune – Task force proposes Chicago employers offer 5 days of paid sick leave a year
Chicago Tribune – Proposed ordinance would mandate 5 paid sick days a year in Chicago
Arizona ballot measure eyes $12 minimum wage, paid sick leave
BBC – Who works the longest hours?
Los Angeles – 6 paid sick days for workers in L.A.? City Council says yes
National Law Review – Pittsburgh City Council Passes Paid Sick Leave Law
National Law Review – Vermont Becomes Fifth State to Enact Paid Sick Leave
Governor of Puerto Rico Signs Bill to Expand Paid Sick Leave Use
Puerto Rico Employment Law: Six Key Differences US Employers Need to Know
Albuquerque group turns in petition signatures for paid sick day initiative
NPR – Hassle Of Being A Patient Can Turn Into A Crisis Without Sick Leave
Albuquerque Journal – Wrangling over paid sick leave in Albuquerque
Morristown Council weighs paid sick leave for private employees
Twin Cities – St. Paul council member Dai Thao sees paid sick leave in personal terms
Star Tribune – St. Paul approves citywide sick leave ordinance
Chicago Tribune – Cook County approves paid sick leave law, bringing suburbs in line with city
NPR – Minnesota Chamber of Commerce sues Minneapolis over paid sick time mandate
NPR – Several States, Some Employers Help Workers Make Time To Vote
Upworthy – State-By-State: Are You Entitled To Paid Time Off To Vote Today?
Business Journal – Maryland governor plans paid sick leave legislation
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