San Antonio's Sick Leave Ordinance Now Rests In The Hands Of A Judge
A San Antonio ordinance allowing workers to earn paid sick leave is now in the hands of a Bexar County District judge. The Sick and Safe Leave ordinance is set to go into effect on Dec. 1 unless the judge grants an injunction.
The plaintiffs include 12 business groups like the Associated Builders and Contractors of South Texas, the American Staffing Association and Hawkins Associates. Their claim says the ordinance circumvents state law, specifically, the Texas Minimum Wage Act. Officials with the city said the ordinance provides a benefit, and not a wage, under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. District Court Judge Peter Sakai ended the Thursday hearing without issuing a ruling.
The ordinance allows workers inside the San Antonio city limits to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Ricardo Cedillo, the plaintiffs attorney says paying an employee for sick time forces an employer to pay above the minimum wage.
You are in effect paying him more for the hours that (he) did work, he said.
Read more: https://www.tpr.org/post/san-antonio-s-sick-leave-ordinance-now-rests-hands-judge