Soon we plan to reintroduce Senate Bill 13 from last session, known as the “Healthy Employee and Healthy Workplace Act,” which would require every employer in this Commonwealth to provide paid sick leave to employees.  
 
The COVID pandemic laid bare the need for a uniformed paid leave policy in the Commonwealth and the need for a comprehensive paid sick leave law.  Absent action by the General Assembly, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia enacted ordinances mandating paid sick leave.
 
In the 2024 General Election, Missouri, Alaska, and Nebraska all passed ballot measures requiring employers to offer paid sick leave.  These three states now join the fifteen other states and the District of Columbia that have enacted paid sick leave.  Pennsylvania should join the growing number of states in promoting healthy employees, healthy workplaces, and healthy families by enacting a paid sick leave law.
 
Our proposal is modeled after California’s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014.  A uniform, statewide paid leave policy that focuses on our employees and recognizes the interests and concerns of employers should be our guiding light in consideration of a statewide paid leave policy.
 
We hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.
 
If you have any questions, please contact our offices.