San Francisco Sick Leave Law (Part 1)

The new paid sick-leave law—as these laws seem to be called now—was passed by the city’s voters back in November 2006. About 61 percent of the voting population OKed the law. The law as it was passed mandates that all employers must give their employees paid sick leave if they work within the city.

As with many of these new labor laws that seem to be getting passed—such as new health care requirements for employers or the increases of the minimum wage (or even these living wage laws that are getting passed in such places as Maryland)—small employers like us often say that these laws will cost them the most, that such laws will take their toll on small employers and make it harder for them to hire new employees, or even keep the employees that we already have.

The new law in San Francisco is estimated to be affected more than 100,000 businesses in the city limits, but we cannot know how many of those businesses are small employers who are straining to meet the requirements of the law. And I am not here to fathom a guess, nor will I complain or take sides in the issue in San Francisco. Remember, folks, I am here just to report the news and give you insights on the laws that you might not find somewhere else, and hopefully I am accomplishing my goals. If not, let me hear it!

By: Mark Hathaway
Source: blog.laborlawcenter.com