Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter signed a mandatory paid sick leave bill into law. Employees will now be able to use accrued sick time for their own illnesses, care for family members, or seek support for domestic violence or sexual assault.

Employers with existing leave policies that meet the law’s requirements will not have to change their policies or provide for additional leave time. Violation of the ordinance will result in fines, penalties, and restitution.

The paid sick leave bill will take effect in 90 days and will require employers with 10 or more employees to give one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, equating to approximately 5 days a year. It is estimated that up to 200,000 Philadelphians will benefit from this bill.

Mayor Nutter said of the bill “Our workforce will be able to take time off for preventive care, recover from an illness or injury, or to ensure that their family and personal business is well-cared for without worrying if it will affect their financial situation or physical health.”

Philadelphia is the seventeenth city in to U.S. to mandate paid sick leave.

The GovDocs research team is monitoring for posting release from the City. Recently Philadelphia amended its Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination which required a Protecting Pregnant Employees posting.

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