Labor & Employment (Paid Leave)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 14, 2025

SB 443: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, providing for employment leave for voters.

SB 443 requires Pennsylvania employers to grant eligible employees up to two hours of paid time off on election days to vote. It applies to all employers in the state and directly affects registered voters who need to cast ballots during work hours. The bill mandates that employers must permit this leave without penalty, though they may specify the exact hours during which the time off can be taken. The policy aims to reduce barriers to voting by ensuring workers can access polling places without losing work time. The bill is currently pending in the State Government committee.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid election day leave for voters, directly protecting workers' right to vote without penalty, advancing labor rights and workplace benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 342: An Act providing for family and medical leave for eligible employees.

SB 342 creates the Pennsylvania Family and Medical Leave Act, providing eligible employees with up to six weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sibling, grandparent, or grandchild with a certified terminal illness. This applies only when the family member has no living spouse, children over 17, or parents under 65. The law builds on federal family leave protections but adds specific eligibility conditions for these family relationships. Employers must post a summary of the law, and employees can file complaints with the Department of Labor if denied leave under these provisions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides unpaid family leave for specific caregivers, expanding worker benefits beyond federal standards and strengthening employment protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 619: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, providing for employee voter leave.

HB 619 requires Pennsylvania employers to provide employees with up to two hours of paid time off to vote in elections, affecting all public and private sector workers in the state. The bill mandates that employees give employers at least two working days' notice before an election and prohibits employers from asking about voting preferences or party affiliation. Employers must post a uniform notice about this policy (available from the Secretary of the Commonwealth) at least 10 days before an election and face fines of $100-$500 for violations. The law aims to ensure voting access without penalty, with employees required to verify voting attendance to retain paid time off.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides paid voter leave, protecting workers' right to vote without pay loss or retaliation, directly advancing labor rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 13: An Act providing for mandatory Statewide employer-paid sick leave for employees and for civil penalties and remedies.

This bill requires most Pennsylvania employers to provide paid sick leave to employees, directly affecting workers and their families who need time for medical care, family health needs, or public health emergencies. Employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked (max 56 hours/year), with rules on accrual, carryover, and usage. Employers with existing equivalent paid leave policies (covering the same purposes and conditions) are exempt. The bill mandates employers to provide written notice of leave policies and prohibits retaliation against employees using sick leave, with pay calculated at the employee's regular rate or minimum wage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires paid sick leave for medical care access, enabling employees to seek treatment without financial penalty - directly improves healthcare access per bill's medical care purpose clause.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-paid sick leave, expanding worker benefits and protecting health needs, aligning with support indicators for labor protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 19, 2025

HB 964: An Act providing for employment leave for victims and victims' families because of violence; prohibiting certain acts by employers; prescribing penalties; and providing for a cause of action.

HB 964, the Victims of Violence Safe Employment Act, provides eligible Pennsylvania employees with up to 160 hours of protected leave when they or a defined family member experience a "qualifying act" of violence - including domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, or abuse of a vulnerable adult. Employers cannot retaliate against employees for taking this leave, and employees can sue if they face adverse actions like termination or demotion for using it. The bill defines "family member" broadly to include domestic partners, caregivers, and others with significant emotional ties, and "qualifying acts" cover both criminal and non-criminal violent conduct. It requires employers to allow the leave without penalty, with penalties for violations including fines and legal liability.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides protected leave for violence victims, prohibits retaliation, and enables legal action - directly strengthens worker protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 1690: An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in compensation, further providing for qualifications required to secure compensation.

HB 1690 amends Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law to require claimants to report certain disability-related benefits when applying for unemployment benefits. It directly affects unemployed Pennsylvanians who receive disability benefits from workers' compensation, federal disability insurance, private disability insurance, or unpaid leave under federal family medical leave laws. The bill adds a new requirement that claimants must disclose these benefits to the Department of Labor to determine eligibility for unemployment compensation. The change takes effect six months after enactment.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRequires disclosure of disability benefits to restrict unemployment eligibility, limiting access to benefits for affected workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Unemployment Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 470: An Act providing for meal breaks or rest periods for employees; and imposing penalties.

HB 470 requires employers with 15 or more employees in Pennsylvania to provide a paid 30-minute meal break or rest period after five consecutive hours of work. This applies to all covered employees, with exemptions for union contracts that already provide equivalent or better break rights and during workplace emergencies. Employers violating the law face penalties of $100-$500 per affected employee per missed break, with additional recovery of lost wages for workers. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid 30-min breaks after 5 hours for covered workers with penalties for violations, directly strengthening workplace safety and employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1855: An Act requiring an employer to provide paid leave to an employee due to a climate-related emergency; establishing the Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 1855 requires most employers to provide paid leave to employees who need time off due to climate-related emergencies, such as hurricanes, wildfires, or extreme weather events. It establishes a state-funded Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund to reimburse employers for the cost of this leave. The Department of Labor and Industry would administer the fund, set eligibility criteria for employees, and manage employer reimbursement processes. This bill directly affects employees in climate-impacted areas and their employers, creating a new paid leave requirement tied to weather emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state-funded Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund, increasing state budget expenditure for employee leave program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid leave for climate-related emergencies, expanding employee benefits and protecting workers' rights. Fund reimburses employers, ensuring no cost burden for this benefit.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1629: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for public worker safety and protection.

HB 1629 requires Pennsylvania public employers to create safety plans protecting outdoor public workers, including sanitation staff, crossing guards, utility workers, and park maintenance crews. It mandates risk assessments, quarterly incident reviews, and mandatory violence prevention training within 30 days of hire - covering de-escalation, reporting, and legal rights - refreshed every two years. Employers must establish confidential incident reporting systems, provide paid leave for recovery after violent incidents, and offer counseling or legal support. The bill also requires data collection on workplace violence and creates enforcement mechanisms, including fines for non-compliance and protections against retaliation for reporting.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates safety plans, risk assessments, violence prevention training, and confidential reporting for public workers, directly strengthening workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 899: An Act providing for the right for employees to paid sick leave from employers and for civil penalties and remedies.

HB 899 requires Pennsylvania employers to provide workers with paid sick leave for their own health needs or to care for family members. Employees earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with a minimum annual accrual of 40 hours. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and mandates clear posting of rights. It covers most private-sector employees (excluding federal workers) and applies to all employers with 15+ employees in Pennsylvania, effective upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave, prohibits retaliation, and expands worker benefits, directly advancing labor and employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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