By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal
Jersey City has become the first city in the state, and the sixth nationwide, to mandate that most businesses provide paid sick time to their workers, thanks to a nearly unanimous vote by the City Council tonight.
The policy requires businesses that employ 10 or more wokers to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time to each employee, including part-time staff. The requirement, which takes effect on Jan. 24, 2014, sends a signal to the rest of the state, Councilman at large Rolando Lavarro said tonight.
“Economic fairness and justice resides here in Jersey City,” Lavarro said to cheers from the crowd of about 75 gathered inside City Hall’s council chambers.
The vote came after a roughly hour-long public hearing that saw workers, small business owners and public-policy wonks offer their approval.
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