Nearly six million working Californians currently receive zero paid sick days through their employers. Too many hardworking Californians are forced to choose between losing a day’s wages or even their jobs when they or their family members become sick. It is time to give all workers in California the right to paid sick days.
A recent poll conducted by UCLA shows a large majority – 88 percent – of California adults indicating that they “agreed” or “agreed strongly” that there should be a law guaranteeing paid sick days for all California workers.
The California Labor Federation is sponsoring AB 2716 (Ma) this year to ensure that workers who need to take time off when they are sick are able to do so. This bill would also set a minimum labor standard for our non-union competitors who currently may provide no paid sick days.
AB 2716 will allow a worker to use paid sick time for up to 40 hours or five days in each calendar year for workers at small businesses (10 employees or fewer), and 72 hours or nine days per calendar year for all other workers. They will earn that time at a rate of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
Visit The Coalition for Paid Sick Days to learn more and get involved.
BACKGROUND:
The California Labor Federation was the co-sponsor of the historic bill that made California the first state to enact a program of paid family leave. Workers can receive up to 6 weeks of paid leave to care for a new child, or seriously ill family member. The law also broadens the state disability insurance program so that California workers can receive partial wage replacement if they must be away from work for a new child or family medical needs. Read more about the bill (pdf)
Trainings for unions on Paid Family Leave (pdf)
A Guide for Workers and Employers on Paid Family Leave (pdf)
Bargaining Fact Sheet on Paid Family Leave (pdf)
A Comparison with other Family and Medical Leave Laws (pdf)
Contacts
- Angie Wei, Legislative Director (Workers' Compensation)
- Caitlin Vega, Legislative Advocate (Wage and Hour, Public Employees, Low Wage Worker Issues, Underground Economy, Right to Organize, Immigration)
- Jeremy Smith, Legislative Advocate (Family Leave, Worker Health and Safety, Offshoring, Election Reform, Labor Education, Green Jobs, Toxics in the Workplace)
- Emily Clayton, Policy Coordinator (Healthcare)
- Shawna Manning, Legislative Office Manager