WASHINGTON, Ill. – The City Council in Washington is opting out of a new state law that mandates workers in Illinois getting at least 40 hours of paid time off every year.
The City Council Monday night voted unanimously to opt out of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act for its employees.
The reason, City Administrator Jim Snider tells 25 News, employees already have good benefits.
“We already provide such a high level of benefits with the sick days, with the vacation days, with paid time off,” said Jim Snider, Washington City Administrator, to 25 News.
How high-level? Snyder says it includes a number of days of personal time, five weeks of vacation, and thirteen paid holidays.
“(It’s) much higher than many in the private sector,” said Snider, “that the benefit structure already is very excellent.”
Snider tells 25 News the law would have meant additional taxpayer money being added to the city’s budget – possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The law, crafted by State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria), takes effect January first.
