Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act Becomes Law!

For over three years, the EJC has worked in coalition with over 20 organizations and unions to pass a Paid Sick and Safe Days bill to give all workers in D.C. a limited amount of paid time off from work when they are sick, need to care for a sick family member, or need to deal with a domestic violence situation.  On March 4, 2008, the effort paid off and, in a unanimous vote, the D.C. Council became the second jurisdiction (after San Francisco) to pass paid sick days legislation and the first to include protection for domestic violence survivors.  Before this bill, over 200,000 workers, mostly low-wage workers, had no paid sick time.   On May 13, 2008, the bill became law.  It goes into effect in November, after a 6-month waiting period.

This is a crucial victory that ensures that workers in the District can address their health and safety needs.  At the same time, we were disappointed with some amendments that were added prior to the bill’s passage.  These amendments dramatically affect the bill's impact and reach, such as a requirement that employees complete a full 12 months of employment to be eligible.  In addition, the Council added exemptions for wait staff, and for health care workers in premium pay programs.  Since one of the main purposes of the bill was to address public health issues, exempting these groups of workers is particularly troubling.  Still, the EJC would like to extend a special thank you to the many organizations who worked to pass the bill, the thousands of citizens who wrote letters and signed petitions, Councilmember Mendelson for introducing this important legislation, Councilmember Schwartz for shepherding this legislation through the Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations and on the Council floor, Councilmembers Graham, Mendelson, and Schwartz for taking a stand for workers by voting against all of the amendments, and Councilmembers Barry, Bowser, and Wells for joining them to vote against the FMLA amendment .

The new Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act is an important step forward toward ensuring that all workers in the District can take time off to recover from illness, care for a sick family member, or address situations of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking – and can do so without losing pay or their jobs.  The EJC looks forward to a time when the city provides this essential paid sick and safe time for ALL its workers.   

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