Committee on Workforce Development meeting, November 2, 2023
- When: Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 9:30 AM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Reconvened
- Committee: Committee on Workforce Development
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928568/video/880191603
- Transcript: full text (19,408 words, official captions)
Meeting notes
AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.
The Committee on Workforce Development reconvened to consider an amended substitute paid leave ordinance, which committee staff said would require employers to provide five days of paid sick leave and five days of paid time off, exempt businesses with 50 or fewer employees from paying out unused paid time off, phase in payout for businesses with 51 to 100 employees, and delay the private right of action for paid time off until July 2025. Members questioned city staff, labor advocates and business groups about front-loaded leave, compliance burdens on small businesses, record-keeping and pay stub requirements, the absence of a right to cure before lawsuits, possible federal preemption for airline and railroad workers, and the lack of an economic impact study before passage. Supporters described the measure as a compromise that keeps Chicago workers from falling behind the new state paid leave law, while several members urged removing or limiting the private right of action and a longer runway for small employers. The committee recommended passage of the substitute ordinance by a roll call vote of 12 to 2.
Topics: paid leave, paid sick leave, small businesses, private right of action, Office of Labor Standards, state paid leave law, rulemaking
Agenda items discussed
- 17:15 Amended substitute ordinance on paid leave and paid sick leave: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Michael D. Rodriguez (chair): Thanked those who worked on the compromise and said a compromise was better for the city. (2:21:14)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked whether an employer can recover front-loaded leave pay from an employee who quits, and said this could discourage employers from helping workers. (29:39); Said the substitute is difficult to understand and that business owners, including those with English as a second language, may struggle to interpret it. (32:40); Asked for a list of business groups supporting the compromise and whether there would be progressive discipline or mediation for first-time violations. (1:41:33)
- Brendan Reilly (alderperson): Said employers would likely stop front-loading time off and asked why the ordinance gives less than eight weeks to comply while the state law gave nearly a year. (34:02); Asked how meaningful access for carryover rights will be defined and whether businesses will have input in rulemaking. (36:18); Asked whether small businesses without electronic payroll could keep accrual records instead of printing balances on pay stubs. (39:20)
- Carlos Ramírez-Rosa (alderperson): Thanked the chair, the Black Caucus, labor and business groups for the compromise and said it keeps Chicago from falling behind state paid leave law. (53:44); Asked how workers would be affected if the city did not pass the compromise before the state law takes effect. (58:29); Noted the original proposal had 15 days of paid time off and asked how the compromise compares with other cities. (1:02:09)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Asked what outreach and multilingual education the city will provide to businesses about the ordinance. (1:08:10)
- William Conway (alderperson): Cited federal cases suggesting paid leave mandates for airline and railroad workers may be preempted and asked whether the city expects litigation. (1:16:53)
- David H. Moore (alderperson): Said he wants to support the ordinance so people get time off, but asked to remove the private right of action and noted the ordinance can be amended later. (1:20:45); Asked that small employers be given six months to put systems in place and that the private right of action be taken out before the council vote. (1:23:52)
- Marty Quinn (alderperson): Asked whether the ordinance could affect airline scheduling and cancellations at Midway Airport. (1:45:22)
- Byron Sigcho-López (alderperson): Asked advocates to explain why the private right of action is important. (1:47:37); Said protecting workers and small businesses are not opposed, cited problems in Little Village, and asked departments to communicate rules clearly to alderpersons and chambers. (1:50:15)
- Bennett R. Lawson (alderperson): Said the city has done little for small businesses and asked which cities offer more paid time off and whether any require payouts. (1:53:02); Asked for names of business groups that support the compromise, saying groups he works with are opposed. (1:54:49); Said he expects costs for the city, noting part-time and seasonal aldermanic staff do not currently receive this level of benefit. (1:57:30)
- Stephanie D. Coleman (alderperson): Said Black business owners were brought into negotiations only late and that such legislation should not pass again without their voices. (1:58:27); Asked how the city defines a small business and urged a clearer definition. (1:59:56); Raised concern that the Office of Labor Standards may not be able to help businesses transition quickly enough. (2:01:45)
- Felix Cardona Jr. (alderperson): Said he initially did not support the ordinance because of small businesses but welcomed the compromise, and asked about training and outreach. (2:06:25); Said the private right of action should be revisited to benefit both workers and businesses. (2:09:20)
- Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (alderperson): Spoke as a small business owner, asked how the ordinance affects restaurants and tipped workers, and said she supports the ordinance. (2:11:57)
Exchanges between members
- 33:58 Reilly picked up on Sposato's point about front-loaded time off.
- 1:20:22 Moore thanked Conway for raising the airline and railroad preemption question.
- 1:41:58 Sposato said, like his colleague from the 17th Ward, he wanted to see the list of supporters before deciding.
- 1:53:02 Lawson agreed with Sigcho-López that the city has done little to assist small businesses.
- 1:59:23 Coleman thanked Yancy for helping bring Black restaurant owners into the negotiations.
- 1:59:23 Coleman thanked Hall for helping bring Black restaurant owners into the negotiations.
- 2:07:00 Cardona noted his colleague from the 17th Ward's point that the ordinance could be amended.
- 2:18:27 Manaa-Hoppenworth echoed Cardona's point that small business owners work long hours.