First Official Day of Paid Sick Leave Finally Arrives

The initiative will impact major employers like Macys and the Cheesecake Factory, who did not provide workers with paid sick days.

The Coalition, including Young Workers United, Chinese Progressive Association, Retail Industry-Supermarket Employees United for Progress! (Rise Up!), St. Peters Housing Committee, Committee of Interns and Residents and Parent Voices, won paid sick days for every worker in the City by a landslide vote of 61% in the November 2006.

The Coalition worked with the City on a transition period to help businesses understand the law and to educate workers. That transition period ends today and all workers in San Francisco can take a paid day off when they fall ill.

Naomi Nakamura, a member of Young Workers United, said We look forward to educating workers about this ground-breaking new law so they take the time to care for themselves and their families when sick. The entire nation is watching San Francisco as we take the lead on this issue of critical importance to working people.

Once again, San Francisco is the first in the nation to pass ground-breaking legislation to improve the health and well-being of all residents. Senator Edward Kennedy, United States Senator for Massachusetts, who is working on federal legislation for paid sick days heralded the San Francisco victory.

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