Hearing set to block Philly from mandating paid sick leave

A hearing is set Monday in Harrisburg on a bill that would block Philadelphia from demanding employers offer paid sick time to their workers.

The bill, introduced by state Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, would stop Philadelphia or any other municipality from mandating paid sick time for private-sector workers.

City Councilman Bill Greenlee, who championed the Philadelphia bill that failed twice to win approval, says the state should stay out.

“I think something like that should be up to the individual municipality. We all have different issues, different considerations to take in,” he said. “I think it should be left to the cities. I don’t think the state should take that right … away from us.”

Grove argues the sick time mandate would create an uneven playing field that would hurt businesses struggling in a difficult economy.

Greenlee disagrees.

“I think it’s unfair to the city, not just the city of Philadelphia but to any municipality that thinks the issue is important to its locale,” he said.

At least for now, Greenlee says he’s not planning to try again to get his bill passed by Philadelphia City Council.