OLYMPIA, WA – Allowing workers to use their paid sick leave to take time off for immigration proceedings is one of the ways Washington state lawmakers are trying to support immigrants facing tougher federal policies under President Donald Trump.
House Bill 1875, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, would allow workers, including those driving for ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft, to use paid sick leave to prepare or participate in immigration proceedings for themselves or a family member.
“For immigrant workers and families these proceedings could be life-altering events, whether it’s securing legal status, adjusting work permits or navigating family reunification processes,” Salahuddin said.
The bill passed the House on a 58-39 party-line vote earlier this month and was heard this week in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
Currently in Washington, employers are required to provide workers one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. In addition to illness, people can use the time off to care for family members, if their child’s day care or school is ordered closed for health-related reasons or if they’ve experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.
“Employers may try to discourage workers from using this time, so this bill would provide greater clarity,” said Danielle Alvarado, executive director of Fair Work Center.
According to the bill, an employer may require a worker to provide an advance notice for missing work and if three days are missed, they may require employees to submit documentation to verify the absence.
An amendment was introduced on the floor by Salahuddin to prevent the documentation from disclosing a person’s immigration status. That amendment was adopted.
In Washington, there are only three offices, located in Seattle, Yakima, and Spokane, for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers the nation’s naturalization and immigration system.
The only option for those in deportation proceedings is to go to the Seattle offices, which can be a five-hour or longer drive from certain parts of eastern Washington.
Immigration hearings require time, with people often having to attend various appointments to have their applications processed.
“It’s important that they attend their hearings because if they miss they are ordered deported and deportation would mean presumably, permanent separation from their loved ones,” said Malou Chavez, from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
Concerns were raised by retail lobbyists and Republicans who questioned whether the legislation proposes an appropriate use of paid sick leave.
“I think titles are important, I think words mean something and I think if we’re going to call it sick leave, it should be for that,” said Rep. Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet.
The bill is scheduled for a possible vote on Friday in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee which will decide whether it will continue to move forward.
This story first appeared on Washington State Standard.
