January 22, 2020
As reported in the August 6, 2020, edition of Compliance Corner, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Western District overturned the lower court’s decision in Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association v. City of Pittsburgh, ruling that the city’s paid sick leave ordinance is permissible under state law as it falls under the health and prevention of disease exception. The City of Pittsburgh Law Department has announced that the ordinance becomes effective March 15, 2020.
The law requires employers doing business in the city of Pittsburgh to provide paid sick leave to employees to care for an ill family member, for their own preventive care or illness, or in the event of declared public health emergency. Employees will accrue one hour for every 35 hours worked.
Employers with 15 or more employees must provide up to a maximum accrual of 40 hours in a calendar year. Employers with fewer employees must provide up to a maximum accrual of 24 hours in a calendar year. Additionally, the smaller employers are only required to provide unpaid leave the first year following the effective date. Employer size is determined by counting all employees (full-time and part-time) both inside and outside Pittsburgh, excluding owners.
The city has posted proposed guidelines and an employee notice, on which they request comments.
City of Pittsburgh Paid Sick Leave website »