Hearing Tomorrow on a Paid Sick Days Amendment to the 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard

Tomorrow, members of the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces will be testifying at a hearing on a bill (No. 110557) that would require certain employers that contract with or receive money from the City of Philadelphia to provide paid sick days to their employees. This bill is an amendment to the 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard ordinance which already requires those subject to the ordinance to pay their employees 150% of the minimum wage.

The purpose of the 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Ordinance is to ensure that as many employees as possible with in Philadelphia are able to “live with more dignity and economic self-sufficiency” and to invest in a “better community economic standard.” Providing paid sick days certainly allows employees to live with more dignity as they are not forced to work sick and improves economic self-sufficiency as they have pay and job security.

The Coalition commends Councilman Goode for introducing this amendment and we look forward to supporting this bill as we work to introduce a new paid sick days bill in the coming year that will cover all of Philadelphia’s workers.

If you would like to attend the hearing it will be held tomorrow, October 5th at 10:00AM in Room 400 of City Hall. For more information about the 21st Century Minimum Wage and Benefits Standard and who is subject to it please see our fact sheet.