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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Businesses in D.C. are pleased with recent tax relief but upset over mandates for paid sick leave being considered by the D.C. Council.
“The cost is significant to the employer,” said Ben Ali Jr., owner and operator of Ben’s Chili Bowl. Some employers might look at reducing other benefits like raises, he said.
The benefit would apply to part-time and full-time workers, who will accrue the time and be able to access it after 90 days.
“Safe” leave would also be included, which can be taken for instances of stalking or domestic violence, as well as other situations against an individual or family member.
“I think it strikes the right balance,” said Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham, who ended up opposing the tax measure on grounds that he wanted more direct relief for small businesses.
It would particularly affect hospitals, universities and restaurants, which have many part-time employees, said Barbara Lang, president and chief executive officer of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce.
“It reinforces that the District is not friendly” to businesses, and makes Washington less competitive with Maryland and Virginia, said Lang.
Currently, San Francisco is the only other jurisdiction in the country to mandate paid sick leave.
One staffer said that no one knows the effect of the sick leave legislation, but that Council member Carol Schwartz doesn’t think it is as devastating as some businesses claim.
Geoff Tracy, owner of Chef Geoff’s, estimates the proposal would cut his profit margin by 15 percent, in an industry where the profit margin is around 5 percent; and he is not specifically aided by part of the tax relief.
Tracy, who wants to open more restaurants, is thinking hard about new locations.
“Clarendon is looking better than Capitol Hill.”
Leave requirements
Paid sick leave requirements as proposed by the D.C. Council.
» More than 51 employees:
7 sick days
» 31 to 50 employees:
6 sick days
» 11 to 30 employees:
5 sick days
» 10 or fewer employees:
3 sick days
Source: D.C. Council
wblake@dcexaminer.com
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ARTICLE HISTORY 
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:42 AM MST on Mon., Jul. 7, 2008 re: "Councilman stalls streetcar plans in Anacostia"
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11:31 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 12, 2008
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9:43 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008
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11:11 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 16, 2008
re: "Council to carve up big pot of money"
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1:36 AM MST on Thu., Mar. 6, 2008
re: "Coucilwoman calls for buyout decrease and bonus for staffers who stay"
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1:19 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 15, 2007
re: "Council to carve up big pot of money"
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will streetcars help or harm? said:
Don't we need to know about the streets the streetcars will be in? Streetcars work in places like Portland, OR, when they have a dedicated area in the middle of a street so that they don't block traffic. But if they have to use the street, they will likely increase congestion, not reduce it. This should be the start of the questioning -- not just ridership, but what happens to traffic speeds. If Graham discovers that there are issues with this streetcar, he should look at the other streetcar plans as well.
1 agree | 1 disagree
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What said:
Where is Carol doing her job from Rohoboth? She is not only losing Republican support, she is also losing all support.
3 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Oh, well. Nobody will come to DC anymore. Especially since Graham parks his own car for free. "Do as I say, not as I do."
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Homnoir: said:
Oh well, The Cary Silveman campaign may be seeing it's due demise. Silverman & all 10 of his constituents -Ray(We're-Here-We're....) Milefsky, Martin Moulton, Richard (Act-Up) Rogers, Si (I-demand-Shotspotter-now)Kailian, Alex (Bring-me-a-memo) Padro, Kevin (Uncle-Ruckus)Chappelle, Brian (I-demand-an-answer-this-minute-Councilman) Smith and their partners & significant others can take the message that the Shaw/Mt. Vernon/Convention Center/Chinatown community do not find their message(s) are the most viable for the aformentioned communities, as a whole. It's call inclusiveness not colonization by way of gay economic elitism.
4 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
In any large business, there are incompetent workers. However, there are still many competent workers in D.C. government & a "brain drain" is possible! Most of the problems & perception of bad service are due to ill-prepared managers; managers that should never have been placed in such positions & certainly not allowed to continue as managers. D.C., unfortunately, has an ineffective, inefficient, inadequate method of selecting, training, maintaining & validating its office/program managers. In most instances, required supervisory (MSS)training is a joke and focuses mostly on fluff. A crew is only as good as its captain. If the captain is ethically challenged, unable or unwilling to perform, unfair, and/or a bully to subordinates-the public should expect poor performance and/or service. Yet, even under such challenges, many D.C. workers try to do their work. Their cries for help are routinely ignored & they have become easy whipping posts for what ails DC. Request my name be anonymous.
9 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Could you do a follow-up to determine how, and when, employees will be notified as to whether they have been guaranteed to receive the incentive payment. Employees would like to put in their official papers if they knew they would definitely receive the incentive. For instance, does it matter when one actually leaves the rolls? How much notice will employees receive that they have been found eligible? The applicaiton to retire, open through Friday, March 7, 2008, is an intent to retire and allows an employee to withdraw their intent. As a matter of fact, could you see whether or not the city is going to have a special fund during FY 2009 to pay these incentives? If Gandhi is saying there is a fiscal problem looming, how does that fit in? Also, will employees receive a lump sum incentive payment or payouts throughout 2009? Will those identified for the incentive payment be based on actual quality of services provided based on the last evaluation? Request my name be anonymous.
6 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Councilwoman Carol Schwartz is in error. There would be no "brain drain" from the ranks of the D.C. Government because of the fact that the majority of the D.C. employees have little or no brains to begin with. Frankly, if they want to do the taxpayers a favor what they should do is fire what they have and recruit from the outside. Then their problems would be solved.
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What about the taxpayers? said:
Those of use who pay through the nose in property taxes should get a little relief. How about a partial refund?
110 agree | 107 disagree
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