Title
Requesting that the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission convene a task force to recommend a proposed ordinance that requires earned sick and safe time for workers in Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, earned sick and safe time refers to accrued hours of paid leave provided by an employer to an employee for purposes of addressing their health and safety needs or those of family members for whom they are responsible; and
WHEREAS, national data indicate that 22 percent of full-time employees and 74 percent of part-time employees lack access to earned sick and safe time; and
WHEREAS, those who don’t have the benefit of earned sick and safe time are disproportionately employed in occupations that require workers to have contact with large numbers of people, including those related to food preparation, hospitality, personal care, construction and cleaning/maintenance; and
WHEREAS, at least 208 outbreaks of foodborne illness in Minnesota between 2004 and 2013 were linked to employees working while sick; and
WHEREAS, annually, the City of Saint Paul receives an estimated 8,487 domestic violence related 911-calls; and
WHEREAS, those who don’t have the benefit of earned sick and safe time are concentrated in low-paid occupations and are disproportionately Hispanic, African American, American Indian, Asian and other workers of color; and
WHEREAS, access to earned sick and safe time has been shown to help workers recover more quickly when sick, visit their health care provider for curative and preventative care, provide critical care for children and other dependent family members and seek assistance related to domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault; and
WHEREAS, legislation requiring varying levels of earned sick and safe time have been passed in four states, 21 cities and one county in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, having a healthy and safe workforce is a public health issue of interest to the wider Saint Paul community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sai...
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