Mayor reviews paid sick leave for Phila. firms with 15+ workers
Smaller business would have to grant unpaid sick days
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter this morning said he has "accepted" a report by a group of community groups, activists and small-business owners, his Task Force on Paid Sick Leave, and will review these "key recommendations":
- Employers with 15 or more employees should have to provide paid sick leave to qualifying employees
- Smaller employees should have to grant "unpaid, earned sick time"
- Employers could set a "wait period" with no sick days for new workers
- Employers should "keep records of hours worked, earned time accrued and sick time taken by employees for a period of two years."
In his statement, Nutter points out he vetoed previous paid sick leave mandates "because of the possible significant losses of job opportunities and the overall state of the regional economy. I do not want to put Philadelphia at a competitive disadvantage."
So what's different now? Nutter uses an odd measure of business health: instead of citing payroll or wage growth that might prove a healthy employment economy, the mayor notes that "since January 2013, we've announced more than $8.5 billion in recently announced, under construction or completed development projects. It was the right time for a comprehensive review."
Who's making these suggestions? "The Task Force was created on June 12, 2014 with mayoral appointees selected based on their professional expertise and stakeholder interest."
Co-chairs:
Natalie Levkovich, Executive Director of the Health Federation of Philadelphia
Dan Calista, Founder and CEO, Vynamic.
Other members:
Chiona Azi, African Cultural Alliance of North America
Marianne Bellesorte, Pathways PA
Peter Cappelli, Center for Human Resources at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
Pete Ellis, El Fuego restaurant
Dewetta Logan, Smart Beginnings Early Learning Center
Dr. Scott McNeal, North Philadelphia Health System and Delaware Valley Community Center
Luis Mora, FINTANA
Teofilo Reyes, Restaurant Opportunities Center United (labor group)
Elliot Rosario, Wash Cycle Laundry
Narasimha Shenoy, Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia
Ellen Somekawa, Asian Americans United
Joanne Zeas, Temple University
As in the past, we can expect the Nutter administration will review these recommendations with the regional chamber of commerce and heavyweight employers before he supports a bill.