Nov 3, 2014

Bill requiring paid-sick time off voted out of committee

Controversial legislation that would require employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees was voted out of the Assembly Labor Committee along party lines (6-3) last week. The bill, A-2354, requires all employers regardless of size to provide their full- and part-time employees with paid sick time off.  Under the bill, employees would be able to earn paid time off at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.

Prior to voting on the bill, the committee approved the addition of five amendments to the legislation. These amendments define "benefit year" as the period of 12 consecutive months established by an employer in which an employee shall accrue and use earned sick leave as prescribed in the bill, provided that once the starting date of the benefit year is established by the employer it cannot be changed unless the employer petitions the commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development; revises the term "domestic violence" to be "domestic or sexual violence" and clarifies that "domestic or sexual violence" means stalking, any sexually violent offense, or domestic violence (under the bill paid time off may be used by victims of domestic or sexual violence); exempts, from the definition of "employee," construction employees that are under contract pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement; provides that with respect to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement in effect at the time of the effective date of the bill, no provision of the bill will apply until the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement; and provides, for an employee hired prior to the effective date of the bill, that the accrual of earned sick leave will begin on the effective date of the bill; and provide, for an employee hired after the effective date of the bill, that the accrual of earned sick leave will begin on the 90th day after the hiring of the employee.

The bill now has been referred to the Assembly Budget Committee for consideration. PIA will continue to monitor this legislation to ensure that our members are represented and protected.