By EUN SIL KANG

Washington, D.C., workers and advocates rallied before the D.C. Council Building today to show their support for the council’s recent actions to consider passing a bill that may provide paid sick leave for workers in the local area.

According to the D.C. Paid Sick and Safe Days Act of 2007, all workers in the District would receive paid time off to use when they or a family member becomes ill. If passed, the bill could provide workers the security that they will not lose hard-earned money simply because they missed a day of work.

Advocates gathered Tuesday to urge the council to pass the bill. They offered their own insights on the issue.

Joslyn Williams, the president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, said everyone should have paid sick leave.

“Paid sick leave is good for all the community. Paid sick leave is a right, not a privilege,” said Williams.

Observer photo by Sakina Rangwala
Peter Leff, of the law firm O’Donnell, Schwartz and Anderson, speaks to a crowd, some of whom are dressed as “sick” people.

 

Williams was not the only one to support passing the bill. Many council members spoke before the rally supporters, acknowledging the need for all workers to have paid sick leave.

“It seems unconscionable that they have to go to work when they are sick,” said Councilmember Phil Mendelson.

Mendelson introduced the bill in May of this year. He hopes the council will act to pass the legislation.

“I am optimistic a bill will come out of the committee,” he said.

Likewise, councilmember Marion Barry said a bill could be passed Tuesday. He also agreed with many of the other members that something must be done about the issue.

While many support the legislation, critics worry that offering paid sick leave will disrupt productivity and lead to workers abusing their paid time off. However, Peter Leff, who works at the law firm O’Donnell, Schwartz and Anderson, said he has seen the positive effects paid sick leave can have on an organization.

“There has been no adverse effect on productivity. We have found employees are judicial with their sick leave,” said Leff.

According to Leff, in 2004 employees on average used four of their 10 paid sick days. In 2006, employees used only three of the 10 days offered to them.

Critics of the legislation may also cite that they cannot afford to pay the extra costs associated with paying workers on their days off. But supporters of the bill disagreed.

“It is extremely feasible for employers to offer this benefit,” said Leff.

According to Ed Lazere, the executive director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, the cost benefit analysis done by the institute, a non-profit organization devoted to public education and budget issues, shows that the cost is not nearly as great as critics may expect.

Observer photo by Sakina Rangwala
D.C. workers rally in support of paid sick leave bill Tuesday morning.

“It would cost approximately $10 a week, per employee, to offer paid sick leave for workers. Businesses could absorb the moderate, new requirements the paid sick leave would require,” said Lazere.

Whatever the case may be, Williams said everyone deserves to have paid sick leave.

“I think everyone else should have it as I do,” said Williams.

Observer reporter Sakina Rangwala speaks with rally attendees.“You deserve to be paid for sick days,” said Barry.