Proponents of paid sick leave trying to get it moving again in Philadelphia

Legislation to mandate every employer in Philadelphia offer sick days to employees is stalled in City Council. Groups supporting the paid leave aren’t giving up.

Sara Friedman of Women’s Way is expecting a baby any day now. She said without paid sick time, it would be difficult. Friedman said everyone should have the opportunity to earn sick time as the bill before Philadelphia City Council would require.

“I don’t know if I would have been able to make the decision to start a family at this point in my life if I didn’t have a wonderful supportive work environment where I knew I wouldn’t have to make that awful choice between staying home to care for an infant and losing a day’s pay or leaving my infant with someone besides myself,” Friedman said.

Councilman Wilson Goode said even though the bill is currently in limbo, he believes a vote will come soon.

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“I am not the primary sponsor of the bill but I believe it will be done before summer recess,” Goode said.

Some business owners say the sick time is too costly in a highly competitive environment. The bill got put on the back burner partly because opponents showed up every week to complain during council’s public comment period.

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