Allegheny County Council Votes To Pass Paid Sick Leave Bill
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Allegheny County Council voted to pass a bill that requires businesses in the county to pay their employees paid sick leave.
The bill passed by a vote of 10-4. The council members met Tuesday to discuss the bill, which has an amendment that exempts businesses with 25 or fewer employees. During a pandemic, some council members felt this wasn't the right time to add another burden onto small businesses.
"It feels like a small step, but I think it is incredibly important," said council member Tom Duerr. "It moves us in the right direction of being better prepared for future health crises."
The bill calls for employers to pay up to five sick days a year. There's no set date on when this policy takes effect, but it'll be 90 days after the bill is signed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
But there are questions surrounding the legality of how the bill came to a vote.
"That process must begin with the Allegheny County Health Department and then proceed to County Council and the county executive," said council member Sam DeMarco. "Simply put, it could be done. But it must be done in the right order."
Council President Patrick Catena said he created the bill after going to a restaurant and being served by a waitress he says was sick. He asked her why she didn't go home, and she told him if she doesn't work, she doesn't get paid.
"Why would you want someone coming to work sick? That affects reputation and of course, makes other people sick," Catena told KDKA last week.
Nick Futules is an Allegheny County Councilman who also owns a restaurant. He has been very vocal about his disapproval of the bill and had to abstain from voting since he is a small business owner.
