by Jesse Kennemer
Imagine that you’ve just started a new job serving at a bustling Seattle restaurant. After six months of full-time work, you become an essential member of the front-of-house staff. Your managers depend on you and customers adore you. Until suddenly you fall ill. It’s significant, and you are unable to work for the foreseeable future while you attend to your health. If your employer is following the minimum requirements set out by the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) ordinance here in Seattle, it’s likely you’ll have exactly 26 hours of paid time as a safety net after working 40 hours per week for 26 weeks. You were making between $30 and $40 per hour including tips, but your leave will be paid out at the $16.50 minimum wage for a total of $429 before tax. By the end of your first week off the floor, you’re shit out of luck and better hope there’s something in your savings for rent.
Since 2012, employers in Seattle with 250+ employees have been required to award 1 hour of leave per 30 hours worked. For employers with less than 250 employees, the rate is only 1 hour per 40 hours worked. Eleven years ago, this ordinance made Seattle a leader in the state. With the passing of Initiative 1433 in 2016, Washington voters decided paid sick leave was necessary statewide. Since 2018, all employers in the state of Washington have been required to provide 1 hour of sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Seattle led the way, and then Washington caught up.
The onset of...
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