Jersey City Extends Right to Earned Paid Sick Time
From PolitickerNJ, October 28, 2015
JERSEY CITY – The Jersey City Council today approved legislation that would strengthen the groundbreaking earned sick time ordinance originally passed in September 2013. The legislation was co-sponsored by Council President Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr. and Councilwoman At-Large Joyce Watterman, and the expansion of coverage under the new law includes thousands of part-time and temporary employees. The new legislation will update the paid-sick leave ordinance, to bring it in line with ordinances in other New Jersey communities. The ordinance passed by a vote of 7 to 1, with 1 abstention.
“We’re extremely proud that, in 2013, we made Jersey City the first city in the state – and the 6th in the country to pass paid-sick leave,” said Mayor Steven Fulop. “Since then, we’ve seen how well the legislation has worked – for businesses and workers alike – and I couldn’t be prouder to see the City Council approve legislation expanding and strengthening this crucial policy.”
Council President Lavarro, a sponsor of the original earned sick days legislation in 2013, explained that expanding the earned sick days ordinance fulfills a commitment that the City Council and administration made to Jersey City’s workforce when the policy was first enacted two years ago.