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SF Approves Extra Paid Sick Leave for 25,000: Who Gets It?

City starts $10 million fund for additional five days of paid sick leave for private-sector workers.
By - posted 3/16/2020 No Comment

Mayor Breed Announces Plan To Provide Paid Sick Leave For Workers Impacted By Coronavirus

$10 million Workers and Families First program will grant private sector workers impacted by COVID-19 pandemic an additional week of paid sick leave

On Monday, March 16, 2020, Mayor London N. Breed announced a Workers and Families First Program to provide paid sick leave to private sector workers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan will include $10 million in public funding that will provide businesses with funding to provide an additional five days of sick leave pay to workers beyond their existing policies.

The Workers and Families First Program will reduce economic impacts on San Francisco workers and businesses caused by coronavirus, and encourage employees to stay home when they are sick or caring for a family member. If fully used, this program would support over 16,000 additional weeks of sick leave pay, providing coverage for up to 25,000 San Francisco employees.

Quick Hits

  • The City will contribute up to one week (40 hours) at $15.59 per hour (minimum wage) per employee, or $623 per employee.
  • The employer will pay the difference between the minimum wage and an employee’s full hourly wage.
  • This program will be available only if the employee has exhausted their currently available sick leave
  • 20% of funds reserved for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

“Public health comes first in this crisis, but we know that many people have less flexibility to stay home and keep paying their rent if they do get sick,” said Mayor Breed. “We want everyone to know that staying home to take care of themselves and their families is the most important thing they can do, not only for their own health but also to slow the spread of this virus in our community. By providing more paid sick leave to our workers, San Francisco can help us make sure people are making the right choices to help us all get through this crisis.”

The Workers and Families First Program will provide City financial assistance to businesses and nonprofits to provide additional paid sick leave time to employees, over and above their existing policies. All San Francisco businesses will be eligible, with up to 20% of funds reserved for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. The City will contribute up to one week (40 hours) at $15.59 per hour (minimum wage) per employee, or $623 per employee. The employer will pay the difference between the minimum wage and an employee’s full hourly wage.

When can sick leave be extended?

This program will be available only if the employee has exhausted their currently available sick leave, has exhausted or is not eligible for federal or state supplemental sick leave, and the employer agrees to extend sick leave beyond current benefits. The program will be available for employees to use pursuant to San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance and the March 9, 2020 guidance issued by San Francisco’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE), or any subsequent guidance released by OLSE, including when employees are:

  • Sick,
  • Self-quarantined to prevent spread,
  • Caring for a sick family member,
  • Home because of a temporary work closure in response to a public official’s recommendation, orCaring for a child who is home because of school/daycare closures in response to a public official’s recommendation.

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Human Services Agency will jointly administer the program. For more information on the Workers and Families First Program go to www.oewd.org.

Support for Small Businesses

The City has launched efforts to support small businesses include deferring business taxes and licensing fees, launching a relief fund for impacted businesses, supporting nonprofits funded by the City so workers don’t lose their incomes, working with partners in the philanthropic and private sector, and advocating for state and federal support for workers and businesses.

  • Relief Fund / Donations: The www.Give2SF.org fund is where donations can be made to support both small businesses and individuals impacted by coronavirus.
  • Small Business Assistance & Guidance: The City launched a website to serve as a one-stop shop for all resources, contacts, and updates for small businesses: www.oewd.org/covid19.

Mayor Breed also announced a policy allowing public workers an advance of their paid time off in the event that they cannot work due to COVID-19 and related public health recommendations.