Legislature Considers Mandating More Benefits

A trio of employee benefits bills impacting all businesses (or businesses whose workers enter Seattle), will be heard this Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1:30 p.m. by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. 

Chamber Recommendations:

SUPPORT SB 5726 Places geographic limitations on local paid sick leave and paid safe leave programs.

SUPPORT SB 5728 Declares state preemption of local paid sick and paid safe leave regulation.

OPPOSE SB 5594 Mandates state-wide minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

The City of Seattle’s application of its sick leave regulation to any business that has workers temporarily in Seattle has impacts on all businesses whose workers physically go there.  If you have workers who go into Seattle even for only part of a given day, contact your legislators (where you live and where your business is located). (Link to Senate Find Your Legislator.)

Your stories of the impacts on your business (paperwork expense, added personnel costs, etc.) to the Chamber’s lobbyist Michael Transue will help.  For those companies with lobbyists, have them sign up in opposition to this legislation.

You may want to communicate to your legislator and/or sign up in opposition to SB 5594 legislation if you believe there is no room in state government for a sick/safe leave policy mandate on business on a state-wide level.   You may comment online for each bill here.

 
If you have the opportunity to journey to Olympia to personally tell of the impact to your business, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee meeting is:

Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

(link to campus map)