Paid sick leave proposal building steam among Seattle workers

smithrock said on April 30, 2011 at 12:22 PM

Corporations are stingy and prefer administrative profits over worker welfare. They claim that paid sick days is reinforcing negative behavior. The Budweiser Flu is the evidence they provide to avoid this benefit. Many corporations reduce holiday days and reduce vacation time too!

1beachperson said on April 29, 2011 at 1:44 PM

Some employers give a certain amount of leave per year. You can use it for sick, vacation, sick kids, whatever. When it's gone, it's gone. They usually allow a certain amount to be carried over into the next year if you don't use it, or cash you out.

roadwork said on April 28, 2011 at 7:46 AM

Here we go. The socialist/communist Seattle city government at it again. Don't you ignorant left wing morons understand the term "Free enterprise" and how it is the ONLY thing that has made this county great.

aziza said on April 27, 2011 at 5:26 PM

Well said KMB.

maynerdgkrebbs said on April 27, 2011 at 4:56 PM

If Seattle does this ,employers get ready to hire more staff as back up.

KMB_123 said on April 27, 2011 at 4:25 PM

I'm stunned that people haven't realized - if I go to work sick, my coworkers may get sick and their friends and family will, too. Most often when I miss work, it's to care for a sick child. If I send my kid to school or after-school care sick, other people will likely end up using their sick time caring for THEIR kids, who got sick because I let my kid go to school sick. By giving all workers some paid sick hours (and we're not talking about a lot of time) we can save everybody time and money - employers and other employees, too. I will gladly pay a bit more for food in a restaurant that gives employees paid sick leave. That way, I know that my chef or server is well and hasn't coughed his or her funk into my lettuce.

ny_nicmc said on April 27, 2011 at 12:21 PM

I have worked in the grocery industry for 15 years and currently have 160 hours of sick pay.... I can only use it if I miss at least 3 scheduled work days in a row or if I am in a car accident or have a scheduled surgery. Obviously I never miss work because I am sick, as it is impossible to use my sick pay. I cannot use it when my daughter is sick, so when she is sick and cannot attend school or daycare I stay home without pay. As an employee I would love to be able to use my sick pay immediately, as a manager I can only imagine the headache I would face, it is hard to run a grocery store without a full staff.

Elwood said on April 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM

In Australia most full time workers get 20 days annual leave, 11 paid public holidays, 10 paid full sick days, and 20 paid half sick days. Every ten years with the same employer you get 3 months paid vacation, and sometimes you can take 6 months at half pay. The Australian dollar is currently worth US$1.08, and unemployment is around 4%. There is a labour shortage that is stifling growth, and they issue special visas for overseas guest workers to come in. Pay and tax rates are about the same. When you are at work, you work. When you are sick you stay home. If you abuse it, you get fired. Simple. Where I work in Seattle, if you get sick you go to work and spread it around to everyone else. If you are injured you go to work injured. It is totally counterproductive - everyone is tired, sick, and have made the avoidance of any real effort into a science. Customer service is poor, resentment levels are high, and nobody could care less. Stupid.

1beachperson said on April 27, 2011 at 8:11 AM

Where I work, we are granted the benefit of sick leave. All of us get the same amount, no matter how long we've worked here - not bad. Yet, I know people who have worked here for 30 years who have not sick leave accumulation because as soon as they earn 8 hours, they use it. They are the ones you can plan on being out nearly every Monday. Others could be out sick for 4 months fully paid and have only worked here 8-10 years. They don't come to work sick, they just don't blow their time. It not theirs that they've earned, it's theirs that they're given! It could be taken away at any time and none of us have that benefit!

noskills said on April 27, 2011 at 7:28 AM

In the example given she said it would cost her $3000 a year to provide sick leave to he employees. Which is about $8.21 a day. That is worth it IMO. When one is sick productivity level decreases dramatically which costs even more. There is a general principal that indirect costs are about 4 times greater then direct costs. So if it would cost the Salon about 8.21 add this benefit it probably already costs them close to $33 a day to not have it. If your sick employee comes in, they are slower and less productive and they run the risk of making others sick and they too will be less productive. People need to look at the big picture.

wildbillinoly said on April 27, 2011 at 7:03 AM

Oh, if I owned a business in Seattle I would comply with this after I re-organised my business, every employee would have to re-apply for their job at a lower wage to absorb this cost, so if you worked for me in the past for $15.00 hr your new position would pay $12.00. I have seen this done in the past.

wildbillinoly said on April 27, 2011 at 6:56 AM

Its nice when an employer gives a employee paid sick time its called a "benefit" and the employer has budgeted for it in their operating cost. What happens to the organizations that cant due to the nature of their business? restaurants and small retail shops will only close doors or fire problem employees that will abuse this one. I will watch this socialist idea. The city does not have the right to force paid sick time it has to be state or federal. Seattle should just be there own state!

underserf said on April 27, 2011 at 5:02 AM

Nothing like the power rush you get when you KNOW the person serving you has to come in sick or lose their livelihood. Such a Grand America we are, that forcing a mother to choose between her children and her job, forcing a single male to spread the flu rather than raise the price of your fast food, auto repair or latte. 'Salright though, I'm sure the Conservatives among us will rejoice in the deaths of the uninsured, helpless workers. After all, it's FAR better to replace an American with someone who is DESPERATE for the job. An immigrant will slave for you, regardless the wages, irrespective of benefits. Conservatives above all else, CONSERVE for themselves alone. Get used to it folks, being American means nothing more than being Guatemalan or Chinese or Mexican - we have NO right to make a better world for ourselves and our children. The only expectation that matters is that of the defense of profit and wealth...

tizzyfit said on April 27, 2011 at 4:21 AM

WOW! To THINK someone needs to show up and actually do some work to get paid is truly a novel concept! Next thing you know, every employee of all the businesses that employ fewer than 10 employees will be demanding the same working conditions and benefits as the ferry workers or Boeing machinists. Is there any limit to how many parasites a workforce is allowed to have before the entire system collapses?

vffm14 said on April 26, 2011 at 10:28 PM

Wow, is Obama in town?