For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Santana/Communications Manager 206-256-5219
Seattle Office of Labor Standards begins rule revisions for Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinance
Seattle – (March 2, 2018) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces the beginning of a rule revision process for Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) ordinance. OLS will gather stakeholder input on key issues in March; issue proposed rules for notice and comment in April; and issue final rules in late May.
The PSST ordinance requires employers operating in Seattle to provide all employees with paid leave to care for themselves or a family member with a physical or mental health condition, medical appointment, or a critical safety issue.
Seattle recently amended the PSST ordinance to reflect the more generous provisions of voter-passed, Washington Initiative 1433, which established statewide paid sick leave for hourly employees working in Washington state. One key difference – Seattle’s PSST ordinance applies to both hourly employees and overtime-exempt employees working in Seattle. The amendments took effect January 14, 2018.
The PSST rule revisions will modify existing rules, originally issued in 2012, to reflect these ordinance amendments. For consistency and clear messaging, OLS will develop rules that largely reflect state regulations. When appropriate, OLS may propose requirements that are more favorable for employees than the state regulations to align with existing PSST rules or policy goals.
Throughout the rule revision process, OLS encourages public input, from employers, employee representatives, and employees. A public stakeholder meeting is scheduled for March 16, 2018, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 1650 (500 Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle) to discuss key issues, such as:
- Payment due to employees when using PSST
- Threshold for coverage of employees who occasionally work in Seattle
- Frontloading
- Increments of use
- Incentive programs
To register for the stakeholder meeting, click here.
For more information on the PSST ordinance and recent amendments please visit http://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards.
For more information on the rules revision process, and to be placed on a stakeholder list, contact Karina Bull, Policy Manager, at karina.bull@seattle.gov.