ORDINANCE NO. 220513

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Amending Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled "Administration," by repealing Sections 2-1099, Vacation Leave and 2-1100, Sick Leave, and enacting in lieu thereof new sections of like numbers and subject matters to make available two free paid leave days to full-time employees immediately upon the start of employment, include mental health as a category eligible for sick leave uses and expand use of sick leave for caregivers; and encouraging Kansas City metropolitan area employers to provide paid leave for all of their employees within the first 90 days of employment, including for mental health needs and dependent care.

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WHEREAS, the vision of the Mayor, Council, and City Manager is to lead the City in promoting a physically and mentally healthy, productive workforce; and

WHEREAS, the Kansas City Health Department affirms that allowing employees access to paid sick leave reduces the spread of disease; and

WHEREAS, mental health is as important to employee well-being and productivity as physical health; and

WHEREAS, the inability to access paid leave when needed inhibits employee productivity, job satisfaction, and retention; and

WHEREAS, City employees who are caregivers lose wages when they cannot access a full day of paid leave for at least one month after beginning City employment;

WHEREAS, lost wages can destabilize households, causing a cascade of negative outcomes; and

WHEREAS, mental health concerns have increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, in Kansas City, throughout the State of Missouri, and at the national level; and

WHEREAS, most City employees currently earn two days of free paid leave annually, in addition to their regularly accrued leave, but that leave is not available until after six months of employment; and

WHEREAS, new employees would benefit from beginning their employment with a...

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