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If you work for a business that has upcoming or brand new contracts with the federal government, we have good news. Starting on January 1st, 2017, some federal contractors will be required to offer up to 56 hours of paid sick leave every year. Eligible employees will receive one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work. However, the change will only affect businesses that were awarded government contracts on or after January 1st.
Under the new rule, paid sick leave will be provided to 1.15 million people who are working for employees with government contracts. About 594,000 of those employees do not currently receive any paid sick leave. Under the new rule, workers can also take paid sick leave to care for ill family members.
This new rule is a result of President Barack Obama issuing Executive Order 13706 on September 7th, 2015.
Why Is Paid Sick Leave Important?
There are several benefits to providing paid sick leave.
Financial benefits: For some families, taking time off from work can create devastating financial consequences. Families can fall behind on bills and risk debts snowballing.
Decreased risk of illness or injury: Working while sick can put workers at greater risk for injuries or illness. Paid sick time can have a positive impact on workplace safety.
Greater employee satisfaction: Workers who are offered paid sick time are less likely to leave their jobs. Employees who are offered sick time are also more likely to be productive. Workers do not spend time stressing over whether they can afford bills or whether they will be fired. Both of these factors translate into employers losing less money.
Thanks to this new rule, employees of eligible federal contractors in Ohio can look forward to these changes early next year.
The Ohio workers’ compensation attorneys at Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC can help injured workers discover if they are eligible to receive benefits.