Sen. Murray Applauds Final Rule Expanding Access to Paid Sick Days For Over 1 Million Workers Employed by Federal Contractors

Final rule released today by Dept. of Labor will require federal contractors to provide up to 7 paid sick days a year

1.15 million workers—including nearly 594,000 who currently receive no paid sick days—stand to benefit

Also includes critical protections for workers who use paid sick time

Sen. Murray continues push for her Healthy Families Act, which would guarantee access to paid sick days for all workers: LINK

Sen. Murray: “Ensuring all workers have access to paid sick days will help build an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthiest few”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Labor announced its final rule requiring federal contractors to provide up to 7 paid sick days a year, effective Jan 1, 2017. The new rule would give 1.15 million workers employed by federal contractors expanded access to paid sick time, including nearly 594,000 workers who are currently not guaranteed a single paid sick day. 

“Ensuring all workers have access to paid sick days will help build an economy that works for all families, not just the wealthiest few—and today’s announcement is significant progress toward this goal,” Senator Patty Murray said. “Making sure that workers employed by federal contractors won’t have to sacrifice a day’s pay—or sacrifice their job altogether—just to take care of themselves or their sick child, will help strengthen families, communities, and our economy. I look forward to working with the Department to implement this new rule, and I plan to continue working to pass the Healthy Families Act to give all working families in my home state of Washington and across the country some much-needed economic stability and security.”

Senator Murray and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) have consistently championed and introduced legislation, the Healthy Families Act, that would guarantee all workers access to paid sick days to use when they are sick, to care for a sick family member, to obtain preventive care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault. The Healthy Families Act would allow workers in businesses with at least 15 employees to earn up to 56 hours or seven days of job-protected paid sick leave each year. Employers that already provide paid sick days will not have to change their current policies, as long as they meet the minimum standards outlined in the legislation.

For more information on the Healthy Families Act, click HERE.

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