Paid Sick Days for Austinites
Consultation has concluded
On September 28, 2017, the Austin City Council directed staff to get feedback from the community that might inform a future paid sick days policy for private employers in Austin. According to that resolution:
- Low-income workers are significantly less likely to have paid sick time than other members of the workforce
- Approximately 37% of workers in the City of Austin lack paid sick time
- Latino and African-American workers are less likely to have paid sick time than workers in any other racial or ethnic group
- Paid sick time can result in reduced worker turnover for employers
- 33 cities and eight states have passed paid sick leave policies
This is the next step in a conversation that started with the Work Strong Coalition in 2015. The feedback we gain through this process will be shared back with the Austin City Council in December for consideration of a future policy.
Below, you'll find several ways to engage in the process. In the FORUM, you'll find a series of questions related to the Council's resolution. Here, you can provide specific policy feedback. In the STORIES, you can provide your personal story of how having - or not having - paid sick leave has affected you and your family. And soon, we'll post a SURVEY with more specific questions related to policy development.
Thank you for your participation, and please follow this conversation for updates and invitations to new opportunities along the way!
On September 28, 2017, the Austin City Council directed staff to get feedback from the community that might inform a future paid sick days policy for private employers in Austin. According to that resolution:
- Low-income workers are significantly less likely to have paid sick time than other members of the workforce
- Approximately 37% of workers in the City of Austin lack paid sick time
- Latino and African-American workers are less likely to have paid sick time than workers in any other racial or ethnic group
- Paid sick time can result in reduced worker turnover for employers
- 33 cities and eight states have passed paid sick leave policies
This is the next step in a conversation that started with the Work Strong Coalition in 2015. The feedback we gain through this process will be shared back with the Austin City Council in December for consideration of a future policy.
Below, you'll find several ways to engage in the process. In the FORUM, you'll find a series of questions related to the Council's resolution. Here, you can provide specific policy feedback. In the STORIES, you can provide your personal story of how having - or not having - paid sick leave has affected you and your family. And soon, we'll post a SURVEY with more specific questions related to policy development.
Thank you for your participation, and please follow this conversation for updates and invitations to new opportunities along the way!
-
Who should be covered under a policy that requires employers to provide paid sick days?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare Who should be covered under a policy that requires employers to provide paid sick days? on Facebook Share Who should be covered under a policy that requires employers to provide paid sick days? on Twitter Share Who should be covered under a policy that requires employers to provide paid sick days? on Linkedin Email Who should be covered under a policy that requires employers to provide paid sick days? link521 ResponsesCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.What employees should be specifically covered under a policy like this? For instance, should it only be for hourly employees, temporary workers, service workers, or all workers? Are there specific types of employees not mentioned that should be considered? Please be as specific as you can.
Consultation has concludedWhat employees should be specifically covered under a policy like this? For instance, should it only be for hourly employees, temporary workers, service workers, or all workers? Are there specific types of employees not mentioned that should be considered? Please be as specific as you can.
-
What types of circumstances should paid sick leave cover?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare What types of circumstances should paid sick leave cover? on Facebook Share What types of circumstances should paid sick leave cover? on Twitter Share What types of circumstances should paid sick leave cover? on Linkedin Email What types of circumstances should paid sick leave cover? linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.For instance, should paid time be allowed to cover only personal sick time, or should it also cover issues like family illness, domestic violence, criminal justice-related appointment like parole meetings, mental health, or other issues? Please be as specific as you can.
Consultation has concludedFor instance, should paid time be allowed to cover only personal sick time, or should it also cover issues like family illness, domestic violence, criminal justice-related appointment like parole meetings, mental health, or other issues? Please be as specific as you can.
-
At what rate should workers earn paid sick time? How much should be earned per year?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare At what rate should workers earn paid sick time? How much should be earned per year? on Facebook Share At what rate should workers earn paid sick time? How much should be earned per year? on Twitter Share At what rate should workers earn paid sick time? How much should be earned per year? on Linkedin Email At what rate should workers earn paid sick time? How much should be earned per year? linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.Sick time is often provided as a percentage of hours worked. For instance, a worker may earn one hour of sick leave for ever 40 hours worked. It could also be provided as a fixed amount on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. There are a variety of options. Which do you think would work best? How much time should workers expect to earn on an annual basis?
Consultation has concludedSick time is often provided as a percentage of hours worked. For instance, a worker may earn one hour of sick leave for ever 40 hours worked. It could also be provided as a fixed amount on a weekly, monthly or annual basis. There are a variety of options. Which do you think would work best? How much time should workers expect to earn on an annual basis?
-
At what point during employment should workers begin to earn and use paid sick time?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare At what point during employment should workers begin to earn and use paid sick time? on Facebook Share At what point during employment should workers begin to earn and use paid sick time? on Twitter Share At what point during employment should workers begin to earn and use paid sick time? on Linkedin Email At what point during employment should workers begin to earn and use paid sick time? linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.There is often a "waiting period" or "probational period" before employees can begin to earn sick time. Should this be part of any policy proposal? If so, what is a reasonable period between initial employment and when an employee begins earning sick time?
Consultation has concludedThere is often a "waiting period" or "probational period" before employees can begin to earn sick time. Should this be part of any policy proposal? If so, what is a reasonable period between initial employment and when an employee begins earning sick time?
-
How should paid sick time be carried over from year-to-year, and how should/could employees access and use it?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare How should paid sick time be carried over from year-to-year, and how should/could employees access and use it? on Facebook Share How should paid sick time be carried over from year-to-year, and how should/could employees access and use it? on Twitter Share How should paid sick time be carried over from year-to-year, and how should/could employees access and use it? on Linkedin Email How should paid sick time be carried over from year-to-year, and how should/could employees access and use it? linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.Sometimes, earned sick leave might "carry over" from one year to the next. So, if you did not use sick leave, it would be added to the following year's earned leave. Other times, there may be a "use it or lose it" policy where earned sick time expires at the end of the year if unused. Should the Council be considering one of these, or some combination of the two?
What process makes sense for employees who need to access sick time? Sometimes, an employer may have all employees pay in to a shared "leave bank" that all can drawContinue reading
Consultation has concludedSometimes, earned sick leave might "carry over" from one year to the next. So, if you did not use sick leave, it would be added to the following year's earned leave. Other times, there may be a "use it or lose it" policy where earned sick time expires at the end of the year if unused. Should the Council be considering one of these, or some combination of the two?
What process makes sense for employees who need to access sick time? Sometimes, an employer may have all employees pay in to a shared "leave bank" that all can draw from. In other cases, the hours are accrued to the individual employee. Also, what protections might need to be in place to ensure that an employee is not denied use of earned sick time?
Finally, there are varying requirements for how employees must notify their employer. For instance, is there a specific and reasonable advance notice that should be required? Should there be other requirements to ensure that the employer has sufficient coverage to operate their business?
-
How might the City of Austin manage and fund enforcement of a private employer paid sick leave ordinance?
by Doug Matthews, over 8 years agoShare How might the City of Austin manage and fund enforcement of a private employer paid sick leave ordinance? on Facebook Share How might the City of Austin manage and fund enforcement of a private employer paid sick leave ordinance? on Twitter Share How might the City of Austin manage and fund enforcement of a private employer paid sick leave ordinance? on Linkedin Email How might the City of Austin manage and fund enforcement of a private employer paid sick leave ordinance? linkCLOSED: This discussion has concluded. We are now reviewing all participant feedback and preparing our final report back to Council.What is a reasonable process the City might use to enforce an ordinance if passed?
Consultation has concludedWhat is a reasonable process the City might use to enforce an ordinance if passed?
Life Cycle
-
Open
Paid Sick Days for Austinites has finished this stageThis consultation is Open for contributions.
-
Under Review
Paid Sick Days for Austinites has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The Project team will report back on key outcomes.
-
Preliminary Report
Paid Sick Days for Austinites has finished this stageThe Communications and Public Information Department has provided a preliminary report to the Austin City Council which can be found in the Document Library.
Our office will continue evaluating and categorizing the feedback and will post the results of that work as soon as it is available. Thank you again for your interest and participation! -
Final Report
Paid Sick Days for Austinites is currently at this stageOn March 1, 2018, Austin City Council adopted a Paid Sick Days resolution for the City of Austin. Thank you for your participation in the policy development process!
Key Dates
-
November 02 2017
-
November 16 2017
-
November 30 2017
-
December 05 2017