AU will provide both full and part-time employees with paid leave under the recently passed Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008.
The D.C. City Council and Congress approved the act on May 13. It went into effect Monday, according to a memorandum from AU Executive Director of Human Resources Beth Muha.
Under the act, all D.C. citizens are entitled to one hour of paid sick leave for every 37 hours worked but can't exceed more than one week per year. A person may take leave if he or she is sick or if a family member is ill, according to the memo.
"Sick" is defined as an illness, injury and/or medical or mental condition, according to the legislation's text. The "safe" component of the law allows D.C. residents to receive paid leave if they are trying to obtain social or legal aid to address issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse and stalking.
AU's sick leave policy for full-time employees will not change entirely, as the number of days they are allowed already exceeds the amount outlined in the legislation. However, now employees may take sick leave to tend to family members and may take leave under the "safe" definitions, Muha said in the memo.
Anthony Brenneman, a graduate student in the School of Communication, said he thinks it is sad domestic violence is a prevalent enough issue to warrant paid time off. However, he said he thinks time off from work is generally a good thing.
"I always think people should get more time off work. Americans work too hard. We don't get enough rest," he said. "And since we get so little vacation time or sick leave, what little time we do spend outside of work is filled with stress because we want to make it count."
Any students employed by AU who work 25 or more hours per week may be eligible for paid leave as well. However, according to the bill, students are not considered "employees," so the standards for student qualification are still unclear.
Marissa Pisarick, a junior in the School of Public Affairs and also a part-time intern at a law firm in D.C., said she approves of the new law and will take advantage of the paid leave if she qualifies.
"It's good to know that if I should get sick, I won't have to worry about losing the money," she said. "For people who can't afford to miss work, this will be a nice change."
Adjunct faculty will most likely not be eligible for the paid leave, Muha said in the memo. Additionally, employees who work with a combined wage and tip, such as a waiter or bartender, are not defined as "employees." Any employers who do not adhere to the new law will be fined in increasing numbers for each offense, according to the legislation's text.
Daniel Dreisbach, a professor in SPA, said he thinks the legislation will have more of an impact on non-faculty staff members.
"It does strike me that this adjustment will have a much greater impact on staff by the hour rather than full-time faculty," he said.
You can reach this writer at news@theeagleonline.com.
