City Hall
Poll: Public Supports Paid Sick Leave
In a new poll conducted by supporters of the proposed paid sick leave ordinance, 69 percent of likely November 2011 voters said they would support "requir[ing] all employers within the City of Seattle with five or more employees to provide a minimum number of paid sick days to allow workers to care for themselves or to care for immediate family members." Forty-nine percent said they "strongly" support the idea, and only 22 percent said they do not support it.
The proposal was most popular with younger voters, union members, Democrats, parents, and residents of Northeast Seattle. The only group that was split on the measure was Republicans, of whom 47 percent of were opposed, 43 percent supported it, and 10 percent were undecided .
The city council is currently hammering out a final version of the ordinance. Although the measure passed out of committee last month, some council members continue to object to aspects of the proposal, including the fact that it requires larger employers to provide more sick leave more quickly; the fact that restaurant and other workers who swap shifts in lieu of taking paid time off forfeit that sick leave; and the fact that only employees at small businesses can swap shifts.
The council is scheduled to take up the legislation formally at its September 12 full council meeting.
The poll of 400 likely voters, which had a asked:
The proposal was most popular with younger voters, union members, Democrats, parents, and residents of Northeast Seattle. The only group that was split on the measure was Republicans, of whom 47 percent of were opposed, 43 percent supported it, and 10 percent were undecided .
The city council is currently hammering out a final version of the ordinance. Although the measure passed out of committee last month, some council members continue to object to aspects of the proposal, including the fact that it requires larger employers to provide more sick leave more quickly; the fact that restaurant and other workers who swap shifts in lieu of taking paid time off forfeit that sick leave; and the fact that only employees at small businesses can swap shifts.
The council is scheduled to take up the legislation formally at its September 12 full council meeting.
The poll of 400 likely voters, which had a asked:
The Seattle City Council is considering a proposal that requires all employers within the City of Seattle with five or more employees to provide a minimum number of paid sick days to allow workers to care for themselves or to care for immediate family members. Unless the employer chooses to offer more, all employees in companies with five to 49 employees would be eligible to accrue a total of five paid sick days. Those in companies with between 50 and 249 employees would be eligible to accrue a total of seven paid sick days. Those in companies with 250 or more employees would be eligible to accrue a total of nine paid sick days. A waiting period of up to 180 days would be required before new employees are entitled to use paid sick leave. Employers can choose to provide sick leave as general paid time off or as personal time—just as long as the employee can use it when they or a family member get sick. Having heard this, do you favor or oppose this proposal?
