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UW Evans School researchers to study effects of Seattle’s sick leave policy

How is Seattle’s law requiring paid sick leave affecting take-home pay for the city’s workers and productivity for its businesses? Hilary Wething, a doctoral student in the UW’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, received a grant to examine the new policy’s effects.

In September of 2012, the Seattle City Council enacted its Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, which requires that employers provide their workers at least one hour of time off for every 30-40 hours worked. Workers can use the time for illness, medical appointments or critical care issues for themselves or a family member. Wething’s study seeks to learn how the law has affected workers in specific ways and how much they are affected, as well as if the effects vary for works across different industries and companies. Read more from UW News.