Grumbling Builds On Paid Sick Leave

Mendelson made his statements yesterday before two dozen workers and advocates in a room on the first floor of the Wilson Building, where supporters held a news conference. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) also stopped by to lend his support.

Raquel Mack, a 21-year-old security guard, spoke nervously before the crowd while wearing her Allied Security uniform. Her black sweater was stretched to cover her stomach. At 29 months pregnant and with a sickly 3-year-old son, Mack said she needs some assurances that she can take time off to care for herself and her family.

"It's already a struggle to pay bills, so missing a day's pay is not an option I can afford if I need to go to the doctor or take care of my son when he's sick," she said.

Brett McMahon, a vice president at Miller & Long Concrete Construction, said that he has about 2,400 employees and that some work interchangeably in the District, Maryland and Virginia, a situation not addressed in the legislation. "I now have to have different rules for people who work in the District," he said. "I don't know how you keep track of this if you work in the region."

He said his company allows immediate supervisors to apply flexible sick leave. "We think we're pretty good with any excused absences. We just ask that you call," he said.

Barbara Lang, president and chief executive of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce, arrived at the Wilson Building nearly three hours later. "We're here to shore up a few [council members] who are shaky," she said.

Lang said council members cannot support the bill when they don't know how many District residents who work in the city are affected or what the economic impact would be on businesses.