Advocates and opponents of a paid sick leave ordinance are expected to turn out in force Monday as the governing body considers final passage of the legislation.
The agenda-fixing session is 7:30 p.m. March 7 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
The law affecting city businesses would allow employees to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. It may be used for the employee's own illness or for care-giving to family members. Advocates say it would help workers who now face a choice of going in sick and possibly spreading disease, or losing income by staying home. Opponents claim it will harm city businesses and non-profits and cause job loss.
Further, opponents say it will blindside employers who are unaware of its consequences, while supporters point to other cities that have recognized the need and passed the legislation.
A new boost this time around is an AARP NJ "Advocacy Alert" article endorsing the legislation and urging city residents to ask their City Council members to pass it.
The agenda is chock-full of other interesting topics, giving local bloggers a lot to write about after a long spell between council meetings. An update on the Muhlenberg campus is promised, the 2016 budget process is starting and "Stirred Not Shaken LLC" is seeking a liquor license transfer. Look for another preview over the weekend and coverage to follow.
--Bernice
P.S. - Don't forget, you can bookmark ptalker2.blogspot.com and get my blog directly without waiting for Dan to relay it on his blog.
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I still think we should leave this up to the state. This ordinance will keep businesses from moving to Plainfield, not encourage them to move here.
ReplyDeletePaid sick leave - residents beware. If you hire babysitters, petsitters, etc. you will have to keep track of their work hours for paid sick leave purposes. The US Dept. Of Labor has issued new guidelines. Unless the City Council exempts certain private hires residents will be responsible for all accounting of babysitters, performers, etc.
ReplyDelete"Local Rebbie" is completely in error here. Babysitters, private duty workers, petsitters, etc., are independent contractors and not covered by this ordinance. I don't know where that inaccurate information came from, but it is absolutely untrue. This has been gone over for nearly a year, so I don't know where these new guidelines came from. I will be blogging on it, providing accurate information on the ordinance yet again before second reading and final passage.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
In order to implement this law it will be necessary to maintain records, file reports and administer the program to insure compliance. I doubt if many of the small businesses keep register tapes let alone pay employees on the books. How will the City insure compliance? It will take an organization. An organization requires staffing. Then too there is the process for purported non-compliance, as for example when an employee takes time off to attend to his sick mother-in-law, and the employer alleges the employee is unmarried? Who and how is this adjudicated? An appointed Sick Pay Tzar, the courts, or one and then the other? If an employer denies the allegation does he need to hire a lawyer, and proceed into a world with which he unfamiliar and a world which he can not afford? How are the fines collected and who enforces collection? Regardless of the answers to these questions there is little doubt that if the program is aggressively administered it will cost the City a great deal of money. It is hoped, but doubted, that all the ramifications of these egalitarian motivations have been considered.....and budgeted.
ReplyDeleteBill Kruse