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Dear Downtown Employers:

The Berkeley City Council needs to hear from you TODAY. At tonight's meeting the Council will be deciding whether to adopt a new paid sick leave ordinance, OR "Postpone adoption of the Ordinance until businesses have had a chance to assess the impact of the news state Paid Sick Leave law on business operations".

Please come and speak at Council Council meeting TONIGHT to voice your opinion (7pm at Longfellow Middle School Auditorium, 1500 Derby Street) , and/or write the Mayor and Council TODAY at council@cityofberkeley.info, and or call the Mayor and Council also. 

Below are the ways the proposal under consideration differs from the new state Paid Sick Leave law that went into effect July 1, 2015: 

• Creates a two-tiered system for large and small businesses. Employees of 'Large Employers' (more than 10 employees) would be able to accrue more paid sick leave (72 hours instead of 48 hours).
• Allows employees to use all of the paid sick leave that they have accrued, instead of allowing employers to limit use of paid sick leave to 24 hours per year as in the state law.
• Does not require that an employee work at least 30 days within a calendar year in California or in Berkeley to be eligible to accrue paid sick leave.
• Allows employees to take sick leave to care for a non-family member.

30. Paid Sick Leave Ordinance; Adding Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 13.100 

(Continued from November 10, 2015) 

From: City Manager 

Recommendation:  

Review and consider the attached Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (PSLO), including the potential benefits and impacts of the ordinance on employees, employers, and the community and either: 

1. Adopt first reading of an Ordinance adding Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 13.100; 

OR 

2. Postpone adoption of the Ordinance until businesses have had a chance to assess the impact of the new state Paid Sick Leave law on business operations. 

Sincerely, 

John Caner, CEO 

Downtown Berkeley Association