Philadelphia ponders less ambitious sick time bill

Another try at mandatory sick leave in Philadelphia has its limits.  City Council is working on the issue after Mayor Nutter vetoed a more ambitious bill.

Councilman Wilson Goode is expanding his living wage bill to mandate up to seven sick days can be earned by people working for companies holding city contracts, or receiving city funding.

“I think we should actually take that stand and say that earned sick leave is important and so it doesn’t extend to the entire universe but it does cover those people that receive city support,” said Goode.

Finance Director Rob Dubow says the bill could cost Philadelphia money.

“It seems likely that in many instances that those contractors would try to capture any added costs of the provision of sick leave benefits in the prices that we are charged for the provision of services,” said Dubow.

The first sick leave bill, which would have applied to nearly all employers in the city, was vetoed by Mayor Nutter.  Councilman Bill Greenlee says if this one passes and works it could help get sick time for every private and public worker in Philadelphia.