Wants city to require sick leave

Bellingham City Council committee on community and economic development is busy: A paid sick and safe leave time and content-limited forum followed by a B&O tax incentive ordinance. Here’s an idea, the extra income to the city on the B&O tax could offset the city’s costs implementing paid sick and safe leave.

In Bellingham, sick employees in health care, food services, retail and accommodation are expected to do the sensible thing, voluntarily isolate themselves and forfeit their income. We all know these low-paid workers put their family’s economic welfare first. They self-medicate, go to work and expose patients, customers and guests to their contagion with the chance of more people becoming sick. Paid sick leave is a small investment in employees and protects protects public health. It is a cost of doing business and is not a new idea A city-wide ordinance could be designed for Bellingham but the council claims the state legislature should implement paid sick and safe leave.

Instead this committee has prepared a reduced B & O tax incentive rate to attract business to Bellingham’s urban villages. Does Bellingham city government care more for the welfare of a minority in a business minority and not Bellingham’s health and low-paid employees?

This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Wants city to require sick leave."