Guaranteed Paid Sick Days Bill Passes in Westchester County, Benefiting Over 120,000 Workers
Albany, NY — On Monday night, the Westchester County Board of Legislators passed a bill guaranteeing a minimum number of paid sick days for most local workers by a 12-5 margin.
Capital District workers and community leaders praised the action and vowed to push the Albany County Legislature to follow Westchester’s lead and become the second Upstate county to pass paid sick day legislation. New York City workers have had paid sick days benefits since 2014.
Currently, 40% of Albany County workers lack even a single paid sick day, which leaves them unable to stay home sick or take care of a child without sacrificing critical income they need to meet their basic needs.
The Westchester County paid sick days bill will require employers to allow workers–both full-time and part-time–to earn at least an hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Those earned hours cannot be used until the employee has been with the employer for 90 days. Workers in very small businesses (5 or less employees) will be able to earn and use up to 40 unpaid, but job protected, hours of sick time per year, while workers for larger employers will be able to earn and use up to 40 hours of paid sick time. The legislation is very similar to the bill now being considered in Albany County.
Albany County lawmakers have had seven months to consider the legislation (Local Law C) and the bill sponsor, Doug Bullock, has already made significant amendments to the original bill in response to concerns from employers. A second public hearing on the bill is scheduled for October 23rd. Worker rights, health, faith, and community leaders are calling now for the swift passage of this bill, as it will improve community health and economic stability for working families.
“Westchester County has stood up for working people and good employer business practices by passing paid sick days. Its provision allowing small businesses of 5 employees or less to accrue 5 unpaid sick days is the same as Albany County’s recent amendment, which will essentially eliminate any increased costs to about 46% of businesses in Albany County. There are too many people going into work sick, getting others sick, and breeding an unhealthy work environment. Local Law C will make Albany County a more healthy and fair place to live and work. I applaud legislators in Westchester County who have stood up for low-paid workers and better business practices—now it’s time for Albany County to do the same,” said Doug Bullock, Albany County Legislator and bill sponsor.
“I support the concept as a way to assist the most vulnerable individuals in our community,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, who called for passage of Paid Sick Days legislation in his 2018 State of the County address. “People shouldn’t feel pressured to go to work when they or their children are ill. It is also a public health benefit as a means of containing outbreaks of sickness. I applaud Westchester County’s action and I look forward to Albany County joining them soon.”
Bill Clay, County Legislator and Chair of Legislature’s Black Caucus, said, “I am 100% behind the legislation, as is the caucus. We don’t need sick workers preparing food at restaurants and checking people out in grocery stores. We need people to stay home when they are sick, and for that they need to know they will not lose their pay.”
“When paid sick days are not an option, workers may never get the time they need to fully recover from an illness and return to their normal capacity. This puts them at greater risk of injuries or accidents on the job,” said Rossana Coto-Batres, NENYCOSH Outreach and Education Coordinator. “Paid sick days ensure that workers can properly recuperate and come back to work healthy.”
“As an affordable housing provider for Albany County’s lower-income workers, I understand that paid sick days are necessary for our neighbors to achieve financial security and housing stability,” said Christine Shudde, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Capital District. “If we truly believe that a fairer, more just society is possible, then we need to take steps like adopting paid sick days in order to realize that vision.”
“This is an exciting development,” said Blue Carreker, Campaigns Manager at Citizen Action of New York. “More and more cities, counties, and states are passing paid sick days legislation, and the benefits are now documented. Enabling workers to earn and use paid sick days means people stop coming to work sick and stop spreading illness through the workplace and the community. Pediatric doctor visits go up; emergency room visits go down; rates of influenza decrease; and employee retention and productivity increase. I am hopeful Albany County legislators will now want to get this done, so that we can more quickly reap the benefits and demonstrate why all workers should have this right.”
“Workers are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve basic benefits like paid sick days,” said Mark Emanation of the Capital District Area Labor Federation. “For someone living paycheck-to-paycheck, the loss of a single day’s earnings can have a devastating effect—both on the worker and their family. We need to fix the rules of the workplace and guarantee paid sick days as a basic right.”
“People in my industry are constantly worried about getting sick and having to miss work. One or two days in bed could mean falling behind on rent or not being able to afford groceries,” said Elizabeth James, Albany County fast food worker. “Paid sick days would give me peace of mind. I wouldn’t have to worry about a sudden illness threatening my family’s security.”
“The Working Families Party congratulates the Westchester County Board of Legislators on their historic passage of paid sick days for workers in their county. I look forward to the Albany County legislature following in their footsteps before the year is out,” said Anita Thayer, Chair of the Albany County Working Families Party.
“Nurses are on the front line to advocate for our patients and our communities. New York City and now Westchester have set the stage for paid sick days. NYSNA members stand with all those who are calling on legislators to act now to pass an Albany County paid sick days bill,” said Corey Ellis of the NYSNA.
“We’re thrilled here in the Hudson Valley that Westchester County will now provide all its full-time workers with the right to receive up to five paid sick days,” said Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU. “The passage of the bill sets the stage for the passage in Albany, and then beyond. All workers should have the ability to take time off for short illnesses without threatening their economic welfare. It just makes sense for everybody’s wellbeing.”
“The word is out! Working people know that Paid Sick Leave is not just a piece of legislation–it is a movement to improve people’s lives which is gaining momentum in cities and states across the country. It’s time for Albany County to get on board,” said Bill Ritchie of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor.
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