Philly councilman upset about possibility of being trumped by state on sick leave

A Philadelphia City Councilman is upset that his earned sick-time legislation could be trumped by a state law.

Councilman Bill Greenlee actually traveled to the White House Thursday to discuss Philly’s mandatory earned sick time law, which took three tries before he finally got it on the books.

He’s disappointed a bill advancing in Harrisburg threatens to end the practice in the city.

“I like the fact that some of the people who voted for the bill said that they would like to see it statewide,” he said. “In the interim Philadelphia should be able to do what they need to do for the health of the citizens and that’s what we are talking about here.”

Greenlee says earned sick time is becoming more and more commonplace in the United States.

“It has shown in other cities that it does not affect the economy of the other cities or states adversely,” he said.

The councilman says he’s upset that the state bill would kill the city law without demanding it state-wide.

Philadelphia’s law applies to private-sector and government employers with 10 or more workers.  It demands employees earn at least one hour of sick time for every 40 hours worked.