On November 22nd, 2019 a federal district judge blocked the City of San Antonio’s paid sick leave ordinance from taking effect as scheduled on December 1, 2019. 

The injunction issued is part of a lawsuit brought against the City by a broad coalition of business groups who are seeking to have the ordinance permanently overturned.

The San Antonio City Council initially passed the paid sick leave ordinance in 2018, but the Council delayed the date the ordinance would take effect. 

In October, the City Council updated the ordinance, calling it the “safe and sick time” ordinance, and set the effective date for December 1, 2019.  

The San Antonio ordinance would require all private employers to provide each employee with at least 56 hours’ worth of earned paid sick time per year, earned at a rate of one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked. 

All employees, including part-time, full-time, or temporary, would be eligible for paid sick leave starting on the date the employee is hired by the company. 

Under the ordinance, workers would have been able to use the leave if they were sick or if they or a family member had suffered domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.

This court ruling, issued by Federal District Judge Peter Sakai, means the ordinance is blocked from taking effect while the court case proceeds. 

At this time, we do not have a prediction on the timing and outcome of the litigation against the City, but we will provide additional updates as this issue develops.  

Please do not hesitate to contact THLA with any questions.