After Austin became the first Texas city to require all employers to offer employees paid sick leave, a representative held a press conference to take a stand against the move, calling it an "overreach" on the council's part.
Austin City Council voted early Friday morning to pass an ordinance requiring all Austin employers to offer their employees paid sick leave. The motion passed 9-2 with council members Ora Houston and Ellen Troxclair against it.
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Hours after the ordinance passed, Rep. Paul Workman held a press conference at 11:30 a.m., where he said the move was an "overreach on the part of a municipality."
"As long as the city continues to trample on the rights of the citizens," Rep. Workman said he will work to make sure business owners are protected. During the conference, he promised that he will file legislation to reverse the ordinance.
He said he believes he will have "no problem at all getting this through the House" and also said he is confident it will pass the senate.
The proposed ordinance would require Austin businesses give employees one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to 64 hours. Employees could use the time on themselves or take care of a family member, and any unused time could be carried over to the next year. Employers who violate the policy could be fined up to $500 by the city.