City of Tacoma Offers Employers Information Sessions on Paid Leave

Tacoma's paid leave ordinance takes effect on Feb. 1, 2016. Employers who want to learn more about this ordinance, and the tools available to them as they work to incorporate paid leave into their respective workplaces, are encouraged to attend one of two employer information sessions in October:

Thursday, Oct. 15, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Tacoma Public Library Main Branch (Olympic Room)
1102 Tacoma Ave. S.

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
STAR Center (Discover Room)
3873 S. 66th Street

These information sessions will be followed by a question and answer session if time permits.

In addition to these information sessions, nearly a dozen business organizations and community groups have arranged to receive special presentations from City staff. Organizations or community groups wishing to schedule a special presentation can email paidleave@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 591-5306.

More information for employers and workers is available at cityoftacoma.org/paidleave, by emailing paidleave@cityoftacoma.org or calling (253) 591-5306.

Final Rules on Paid Leave Now Available

Rules guiding implementation of the Paid Leave Ordinance have been finalized and are now available HERE.

These rules were shaped by community feedback received during the public review period, which included four public hearings and other forms of outreach.

With the Paid Leave rules finalized, the City of Tacoma's focus will now shift to community education, additional outreach, and the creation of tools and standard forms to help employers with implementation.

Requests for one-on-one consultations or group presentations on Paid Leave can be sent to paidleave@cityoftacoma.org.

Public Hearings Regarding Draft Paid Leave Rules and Regulations June 10 and June 25

Beginning February 2016, employers will be required to provide up to 24 hours of paid leave annually to employees in Tacoma. 

The leave can be used for temporary time off of work for health or safety needs. Paid leave rules and regulations have been drafted and are now available for community members to review at cityoftacoma.org/paidleave, and they are invited to provide feedback at one of the following public hearings:

June 10, 2015 – 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

STAR Center (Discovery Room) 3873 S. 66th St.

June 25, 2015 – 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Tacoma Public Library Main Branch (Olympic Room) 1102 Tacoma Ave. S.

Feedback can also be shared by emailing paidleave@cityoftacoma.org or calling (253) 591-5306.

2015 WorkWell Awards Designees Announced

WorkWell Award designees were recognized Friday, February 13, at the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Chamber Luncheon Featuring: WorkWell Awards – A Celebration of the Healthy Workplace event held at the Pacific Grill Events Center, 1530 Pacific Ave.,Tacoma, Wash., 98402.

While the luncheon focused on the WorkWell program awards, which recognizes local employers who made a commitment to three designated areas of healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free, there were also presentations on the recently passed City of Tacoma Mandatory Paid Time Off ordinance and information surrounding the Minimum Wage discussion.  

Andy Cherullo, Finance Director for the City of Tacoma and David Schroedel of Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, spoke on the Mandatory Paid Time Off Ordinance recently approved by the City of Tacoma.  Bruce Beckett, Director of Government Affairs for the Washington Restaurant Association presented information regarding current discussions around the issue of Minimum Wage.

The Chamber celebrated the strides Pierce County businesses took to make health and wellness a priority in their work place through three levels of recognition: Gold, Silver and Bronze WorkWell Awards as well as the WorkWell Happy Heart Achievement Award which highlighted an organization’s policies, programs and/or activities that supports employee health and well-being.

AHBL, Inc., Better Business Bureau of Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington, MultiCare Health System and Nisqually Red Wind Casino were recognized as Happy Heart Achievement designees.

Gold designees AHBL, Inc., Better Business Bureau of Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington, MultiCare Health System, Nisqually Red Wind Casino, Tacoma Community House and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department implemented changes to all three workforce health categories: healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco-free.

Silver designee Rapport Benefits Group implemented changes to two of the three workforce health categories.

In addition, the Active Transportation Advocate Award, sponsored by Downtown: On the Go! was presented to MultiCare Health System.  The award recognizes an organization that provides encouragement and incentives to their employees for using active transportation.

Tacoma Council Adopts Mandatory Paid Leave

On Tuesday, January 27th, after a marathon council meeting lasting nearly six hours and including 35 pages of amendments, Tacoma’s City Council passed (8-1) an ordinance requiring all businesses operating within the City to provide a minimum of 3 days of paid time off to employees beginning February 1^st, 2016.  

Early versions of an ordinance brought forward by paid leave proponents suggested businesses be responsible for providing employees with up to 14 days of paid time off.  The Chamber made it clear that new mandates will make it harder for businesses to meet their employees’ actual needs rather than those thought up by others.  Furthermore, if the Council is truly focused on employees, it must minimize expensive tracking and regulatory burdens to ensure limited funds are actually spent on providing benefits rather than administration.

Thankfully, enough of the Council heard these concerns to streamline the tracking and incorporate flexibility.  The 3-day ordinance passed by Council also allows for employers and employees with unique needs options like on-call pay programs, shift swapping, minimum hours worked, and front loaded benefits.

While this phase of the paid leave discussion has wrapped up, we are preparing for the next round.  Unusual for Tacoma, the Council has decided to implement a rule making process after passing the Ordinance meaning there are numerous questions about the details.  Once these rules are published, we will be hosting sessions to get businesses up to speed.  At a minimum, all businesses should plan on reviewing their personnel policies and handbooks to ensure they meet the allowable usage requirements in the ordinance.

Previously, the Chamber has shared status updates on this issue.  We will continue to provide updates as we can.

Final Reading on Mandatory Paid Leave

The Chamber has been actively working on the Tacoma City Council's Mandatory Paid Leave Ordinance (link). Now the Council has placed a draft ordinance on their agenda for final reading on Tuesday, January 27th at 5PM. The proposal requires all businesses operating that are located in or doing business in the City of Tacoma to provide 3 days of paid time off to every employee. However with the final reading tomorrow night, they could amend the ordinance in any way. Some Councilmembers are actively working to more than double this requirement to 7 days of paid leave and make it more difficult to track hours and prevent abuse. Join with other business leaders and share with your Councilmembers how this ordinance, and particularly these proposed amendments, will impact your business. Sign up for public comment to express how this will affect you. Click the following link for procedures to speak at the City Council Meeting (link).   The meeting will be held at Tacoma City Council Chambers, 747 Market Street, First Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402 on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.  If you can't attend, please contact your councilmembers directly. Their emails and phone numbers are at: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_council