A new version of the bill to mandate earned sick days for Philadelphia workers is awaiting action from Mayor Nutter, who vetoed a previous incarnation of the measure.
Philadelphia City Council approved Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr.’s sick-leave bill in a 15-2 vote Oct. 13.
Mayor spokesperson Mark McDonald said the measure is still “under review” and the mayor will make a decision by Oct. 27.
This past summer, Nutter vetoed a sick-leave measure submitted by Councilmen Bill Greenlee and Darrell Clarke that narrowly passed Council.
Greenlee and Clarke’s Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces would have applied to all businesses operating in Philadelphia and would have allowed for employees to earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, with employees at larger companies eligible for up to seven earned sick days annually or four days for employees of smaller businesses.
The time could be taken for the employee him or herself or for a relative, including a same-sex domestic partner.
Goode’s bill does not specifically reference for whom the sick time could be taken, and the councilman did not respond to a request for comment.
In vetoing the original measure, Nutter contended the initiative would be too costly and could discourage companies from doing business in the city.
Goode’s narrowed bill extends to public agencies with city contracts of more than $10,000, service contractors making at least $1 million annually who receive $10,000 or more from the city, nonprofits with contracts of more than $100,000, those with city leases and subcontractors with more than 25 employees, among other groups.
“This is an important first step toward getting earned sick days for all the people who live and work in Philadelphia,” said Stephanie Haynes, community coordinator at Philadelphia Family Pride. “We look forward to City Council and the mayor expanding this to include more workers in the future.”
In addition to vetoing or signing the bill, Nutter also has the option to take no action, which would allow it to become law.
Council would need 12 votes to override a veto.
McDonald noted that at a recent committee hearing on Goode’s measure, city finance director Rob Dubow testified against it, while he welcomed the concept of providing sick-leave benefits.
“The bottom line is that the city wants the highest quality service at the lowest price, like any consumer,” McDonald said. “But if you keep adding on requirements to contracts, is that going to raise the cost of future work the city might seek?”
McDonald said there were a lot of “unanswered questions” about the legislation’s impact — such as the number of employees who would be impacted or the state of current sick-leave policies at impacted agencies.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].