WATCH LIST: Healthy Families Act

• Paid Sick Leave

Full text:

• H.R. 1542 / S. 910

Summary:

The Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1542; S. 910) would require employers with 15 or more employees to provide 7 days of paid sick leave for employees working 30 or more hours per week. Additionally, it would require a pro-rated number of days or hours of paid sick leave for employees who work less than 30 hours per week (or less than 1,500 hours per year) and allow employees to take leave for their own medical condition, doctor appointments, or preventative or diagnostic treatment. Employees could also use the leave to care for a family member with comparable needs. Leave would be calculated on an hourly basis or in the smallest increment that the employer’s payroll system uses. It would prohibit employers from eliminating, reducing or redesigning existing leave policies in effect at the time of enactment. The Secretary of Labor to enforce this Act and would be empowered to seek back pay, wages, benefits and other equitable remedies against those in violation of the Act.