Vice Chairman Gilbert secures paid sick leave for the County’s security service contractor employees

MIAMI-DADE – The Miami-Dade Commission voted on Wednesday, September 1st to approve an ordinance sponsored by Vice Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III that establishes paid sick leave for employees of County security service contractors.

“Your greatest expression of what you value as a community is what you’re actually willing to pay for — and the health and welfare of the employees of County service contractors is vital,” Vice Chairman Gilbert said.

The legislation will give County contracted security guards one hour of earned paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked or 56 hours of paid time off at the beginning of each 12-month period of employment. Employees can use these hours to go to the doctor, care for a family member, or for domestic violence survivors to relocate, among other reasons. The bill will cover companies with County contracts valued at more than $100,000 and 15 or more employees.

Amid the pandemic, implementation of this ordinance will reduce the number of employees who go to work sick, which is dangerous to other employees and the public they come face to face with. It will also prevent them from having to choose between caring for themselves and their families or foregoing income they can’t afford to lose. “I place value on them protecting their families and them protecting us,” stated Vice Chairman Gilbert.