Comments

1
Fantastic! But you don't say ... which city council members are supporting this? Who was at the event?
2
Very cool.

Our efficient urban center continues to advance leaving our suburban and rural wannabes "left behind" in the dust.
3
Wow, I guess that signals the total collapse of all small business in Seattle, if I'm to believe the nay-sayers. The price of all items on a restaurant menu will go up 300% overnight to cover this nanny-state intrusion.

Or, not.
4
Total BS! F**K off govimint.
5
I'm happy to see the strategy of "show the bosses what we will do without their support if they don't work with us" seems to be working here. Nobody really wanted a fight over this, but the backers made clear they weren't going to sit around waiting.

@1, there's a bit more at http://publicola.com/2011/06/21/new-paid…
6
Jesus. What are the odds Mayor McGoo will be recalled by the time the council approves this so someone who has an ounce of business sense has the chance to veto it? I would not have opened my business in Seattle if I had realized what a fucking nanny state city council we have here. Yeah, my 18 year old employees will not be abusing this at all. When I have an employee who is sick, they call me and I offer them another shift when they feel better. This is a system that is fair and works! Free money! Thanks guvment!
7
You should probably note in this article that the Stranger is partnered with David "So what if my employees are sick?" Meinert in the annual Capitol Hill Block Party.
8
@6:

Go open a business in Mogadishu if government intervention bothers you so much.
9
What does "required to offer full-time employees up to five sick days a year" mean, in terms of a floor? When I see the words "up to", followed by a number, the described range often includes zero.
10
@9, employees will accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30, 35, or 40 hours worked, depending on company size. This translates to no more than five, seven, or nine sick days per year.

11
@1, Nick Licata has been a big proponent of the legislation. Sally Clark was there, as was Jean Godden. But frankly, now that more small businesses are on board, I don't see much opposition rallying to kill the measure (and Licata didn't seem to either when pressed at the presser this morning).
12
Kinda torn. My wife would benefit from this, she doesnt get paid to call in sick, so she never calls in sick. I get paid sick days, but like the wife, never call in sick, I go into work when im sick, snowing, wind storm, whatever.

My wife's boss is a total moron and would probably wouldnt like this new law. He would probably hire a FNG and break up everyones hours so that nobody gets full time hours, enough to qualify.
14
@12 sounds like a smart man
15
Councilmember Licata is the prime sponsor. There will be a discussion of the proposal in Nick's committee tomorrow and next week the legislation will be referred to Nick's committee.
16
Um... does,
Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees would be required to offer full-time employees up to five sick days a year
...mean that part time employees remain just as screwed as always?
17
@16,

The legislation would cover roughly 40 percent of Seattle’s workforce that currently has no paid sick leave.


Yes.
18
@12 The weather thing I get. I've never let wind, rain or snow stop me (although I have tried to live close enough to work that I could always walk if I needed to). But really? You get paid sick time and still go to work sick? I can't stand people like that. I've been sick a couple of times this year. Each time it was something I picked up from someone in the office who came in to work sick. Seriously, if you have paid sick leave and don't use it when you need to, each of your co-workers should get one free punch to your face.
19
@12 and @16: In re: your comments about part time workers, I found this on the coalition's website.

Here's how i read it: Part time workers accrue paid sick time at the same rate as FTEs. So if a part-timer works 20 hours a week in a small company they'll earn 2.5 sick days per year, compared to 5 paid sick days for their FTE counterpart.

"In companies with fewer than 250 FTEs, the cap for part-time employees is prorated based on the two highest quarters of the past 12 months."

http://seattlehealthyworkforce.org/our-p…
20
I wouldn't worry too much about this if I were you, #6. You'll probably go out of business for some other reason long before this starts to impact your bottom line.
21
@18

I work tech support, 6 others like me, so when one calls in sick, everyone else feels this during the day with non-stop calls and high wait times. I have my own secluded cubicle, so the risk of spreading my disease is low.

Plus, when the economy continues to suffer (or not recover), damm straight im not going to be the one with the highest sick day count.

Please wait...

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