Prop F Becomes Law – But Workers May Not See Benefit Until JunePaul Hogarthbyline‚ Feb. 06‚ 2007San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance became law yesterday, but employers probably won’t have to pay it until June 5th. Voters made history last November by passing Proposition F, making San Francisco the first place in the nation where employees have the right to paid sick leave. Under Prop F, employees who have worked for at least 90 days will start accruing one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. An estimated 115,000 workers in San Francisco currently have no paid sick leave at their jobs, forcing them to choose between showing up to work sick and paying their rent. In the restaurant industry, 74% of employees have no paid sick leave. But while Prop F delayed the Ordinance’s effect until three months after the Election, the Chamber of Commerce is now asking for more time to figure out how to make it work. Concerned about employers getting hit with statutory penalties due to lack of compliance, they have requested a four-month “grace period” to delay the Ordinance’s effect for employers to begin tracking their employees’ sick-leave accruals. Supervisors Sean Elsbernd and Aaron Peskin have proposed an Amendment to allow for this “grace period,” which will be heard on February 8th at the Rules Committee. |