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Pittsburgh's Paid Sick-Leave Law Stands

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - Pennsylvania's highest court is overturning lower court decisions and ruling that Pittsburgh has the authority to require paid sick leave for workers.

Wednesday's ruling by the state Supreme Court lets the city's 2015 ordinance stand.

Mayor William Peduto is calling the decision a huge win for people who live and work in Pittsburgh. He says people shouldn't be forced into deciding between staying homesick and missing a day's pay or going to work and spreading germs.

"Guaranteeing paid sick leave is a huge win for those who live and work in Pittsburgh...This is not only a historic win for workers in Pittsburgh but for all of Pennsylvania" said City Councilman Corey O'Connor.

Business organizations had sued over the rule and won twice in lower courts.

Under the ordinance, employers with 15 or more employees must give them up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Employers with fewer than 15 employees must provide up to 24 hours of paid sick leave per year.

Public officials said this is not only a win for politicians but a win for workers fighting for economic justice, but others feel that this decision is a disappointment.

"This decision will fall especially hard on small businesses, and, unfortunately, open the door for other municipalities to follow Pittsburgh's lead'" said Karen Harned, Executive Director of the NFIB Small Business Legal Center.

Harned thinks this may be a loophole, making any situation easily relatable to public health.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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