Pittsburgh City Council is nearing a final vote on Mayor Bill Peduto’s plan to require all employers with 50 or more workers within the city limits to take paid COVID-19 sick leave. John Graf, President and CEO of Priory Hospitality Group, urges them to slow down “We are 100% committed to the goals of the mayor and city council,” Graf told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, but is concerned about the impact on employers . “This will put a significant strain on the companies in our industry – hotels and restaurants, meeting places – that are already affected by this pandemic.” Graf is a past chairman of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, which previously lost a year-long legal battle against a city-passed sick leave law of 2005. “We really want our employees to have the time and pay to deal with a COVID- Diagnosis or COVID quarantine, but we feel the focus should be on expanding families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides for refundable paid vacation rather than another financial one for businesses already on the brink of business interruption Impose burden, “wrote Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, in an email response to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.” We haven’t heard from them, “said Mayor Peduto’s chief of staff Dan Gilman , to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “I encourage everyone en r w Ants that let their voices be heard come to the table and are part of the solution. In this case, we haven’t heard from the Restaurant and Lodging Association. We heard from the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. You’ve been a great partner when it comes to sitting down and making helpful and productive changes. “The federal COVID-19 sick pay, which reimburses employers for the costs, expires at the end of the month.” It is a difficult time. So we’ve made a number of changes trying to strike that balance, “Gilman said.” We hope to reach a position where we can have not only a 9-0 vote by the council, but also a stamp of approval from the organizations and labor rights organizations. And I think we’re either there or about to be there. “Gilman was due to give a public briefing to members of the city council in a virtual session on Monday evening. The council tentatively approved the plan last week, and a final vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
PITTSBURGH –
Pittsburgh City Council is nearing a final vote on Mayor Bill Peduto’s plan to require all employers with 50 or more workers within the city limits to take paid COVID-19 sick leave.
John Graf, President and CEO of Priory Hospitality Group, tells them to slow down.
“We are 100% supportive of the mayor’s and city council’s goals,” Graf told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4, but is concerned about the implications for employers. “This will put a significant strain on the companies in our industry – hotels and restaurants, meeting places – that are already affected by this pandemic.”
Graf is a former chairman of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, which previously lost a year-long legal battle against a city-passed 2005 sick leave bill.
“We really want our employees to have the time and pay for a COVID diagnosis or COVID quarantine. However, we believe the focus should be on expanding the Family First Coronavirus Response Act to provide for a refundable paid vacation rather than paying a different financial burden on companies about to exit, “wrote Melissa Bova, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, in an email response to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.
“We haven’t heard from them,” Mayor Peduto’s chief of staff Dan Gilman told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. “I encourage anyone who wants their voice to be heard to come to the table and be part of the solution in this case we are. ” I haven’t heard from the Restaurant and Lodging Association. We heard from the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. You’ve been a great partner when it comes to sitting down and actually making helpful and productive changes. “
The federal COVID-19 sick pay, which reimburses employers for the costs, expires at the end of the month.
“It’s a difficult time. So we’ve made a number of changes trying to strike that balance,” Gilman said. “We hope to get to a position where we can get not only a 9-0 vote from the council, but also a stamp of approval from business associations and labor rights organizations. And I think we are either there or about to be there to be.” . “
Gilman was due to give a public briefing to members of the city council in a virtual session on Monday evening. The Council tentatively approved the plan last week and a final vote is scheduled for Tuesday.
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