title
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHING EMPLOYER PAID SICK LEAVE FOR RESIDENTS OF COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, the County of Cook is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 (a); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to their home rule powers, the Cook County Commissioners may exercise any power and perform any function relating to their governments and affairs, including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, promoting the public health and welfare for those who work within the County's border plainly meets this criterion; and,
WHEREAS, employees in every industry occasionally require time away from the workplace to tend to their own health or the health of family members: and
WHEREAS, in Cook County, XX percent of private sector workers received no paid sick leave; and,
WHEREAS, paid sick leave has a positive effect of the health of not only employees and their family members, but also the health of fellow workers and public at large and the most comprehensive national survey of U.S. restaurant workers found that two-thirds of restaurant wait staff and cooks have come to work sick; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Health and Hospital System spends between 350 and 500 million in uncompensated care and has an interest in the health of County residents; and
WHEREAS, paid sick leave reduces health care expenditures by promoting access to primary and preventative care and reduces reliance on emergency care; and
WHEREAS, nationally providing all workers with paid sick leave would result in 1.1 billion in annual savings in hospital emergency department costs; and
WHEREAS, over 20 municipalities including New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Jersey City have passed legislation requiring employers within their jurisdictions to provide paid sick leave; and
WHEREAS, a cost model developed by the Civic Consulting Alliance found t...
Click here for full text