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Committee recommends making SAFER Act protections permanent for workers who test positive or quarantine for COVID-19
Summary
The GAO Committee recommended to the Board an ordinance to amend the Police Code to make permanent employment protections from the SAFER Act for workers who test positive for COVID-19 or must quarantine, preserving remedies through the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Jan. 7 recommended that the Board consider an ordinance to amend the Police Code to protect workers from adverse employment actions if they test positive for COVID-19, must quarantine, or previously isolated for COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
Paul (identified in the record as the legislative aide to Supervisor Ronan) presented the ordinance on the Supervisor’s behalf, saying the measure would make permanent provisions of the SAFER Act (Safeguards Against Firings and Employer Retaliation) that were previously enacted as an emergency ordinance in September. The SAFER Act makes it unlawful for an employer to fire, demote, suspend or otherwise discipline a worker for taking time off because of a positive COVID test or necessary quarantine.
Under the ordinance, workers whose rights are violated may file complaints with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, which can investigate and order remedies including reinstatement, payment of lost wages and additional penalties for repeat violations. The clerk recorded no public callers on the ordinance; the committee voted to recommend the item to the full Board (Peskin, Haney, Marr all recorded aye in committee).
