Like several cities across the country, Philadelphia is the latest city to pass a paid sick leave bill. Philadelphia’s mayor Michael Nutter signed into law, the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Ordinance on February 12, 2015. The bill becomes effective May 13, 2015.
Under the Ordinance, employees employed by an employer who work within the geographic boundaries of the city of Philadelphia for at least 40 hours in a year, are entitled to a minimum level of paid sick days. Independent contractors, seasonal workers, adjunct professors, employees hired for a term of less than six months, interns, pool employees, State and Federal employees, and employees covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement are excluded in the Ordinance. Employers with ten or more employees will be required to provide up to one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked by an employee. Employers with less than 10 employees will be required to provide unpaid sick time.
Also under the Ordinance, current employees will start to accrue sick time on May 13th. Employees hired after the effective date, will start to accrue sick time at the beginning of their employment. Sick time may be used after the 90th day of employment. Employers must allow sick time to be carried over to the following calendar year, unless they provide at least 40 hours of sick time at the beginning of each calendar year. Employers are not required to pay their employees for unused sick time when an employee resigns, retires, or is terminated.
Philadelphia employers are required to provide employees with a notice of their right to sick leave as well as the amount of sick leave. This notice requirement can be fulfilled by displaying a poster in the workplace. Make sure to check back at Compliance Poster Company website for more information regarding this new law and poster!