On Feb. 5, all San Francisco employees outside of the CSU system were the first in the nation to acquire paid sick leave.

The law provides one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers who have a staff of less than 10 employees provide no more than 40 work hours of sick leave a year to each employee. Bigger employers will provide up to 72 hours.

Though the law affects most employees, it does not necessarily apply to everyone at SF State. People who work on-campus and are employed by the California State University system are exempt.

It was written and promoted by District 6 Supervisor Chris Daly, who cited public health as a main factor in the law. The law, which was passed with a 61 percent majority in November, draws heavy criticism from some and strong support from others.

"It would definitely take the stress off while I am out of town,” said Rosie Medieros, 21, and a BECA major. Medeiros works at Rasputin Records on Union Square and said, Medeiros's family lives in Virginia, and she said it is stressful to leave for more than a couple days at a time.

On the other hand, small business owners such as Gary Frank, owner of The Booksmith on Haight Street, are afraid that the new sick leave will be difficult to budget, especially with another hike in the city's minimum wage to $9.14 an hour-- the highest local wage in the country-- coupled with legislation that will also require employers to pay $1.11 an hour into a health coverage plan for their employee.

“We are locked into our prices,” Frank said. “[The law] is not good for us. I understand this law, they're liberal, but I am liberal too."

His business paid its employers sick leave and also had a healthcare package in place for employees who work over 30 hours a week. He said integrating the new law would be costly for him because it demands more than he is currently providing. He stressed that small business owners should be in control of delegating sick leave, not the city.

Kevin Timpane, a longtime San Francisco resident and parent of two said the law will ease the burden of single parents or families in which both parents work full time. Workers are permitted to use paid leave to care for a friend, family member or partner that they delegate.

Timpane said if one of their children gets sick, he can stay home without worrying. He said he voted for the measure because he thought it was beneficial to the city's economy.

"People who don't already have health care are usually the people who cant afford to take time off of work and see a doctor," he said. "This should ease the burden on them so that they don't get so sick that they end up in San Francisco General and the city has to pay for it."

Applicable employees accrued their first sick leave hours on Monday, Feb. 5. For those hired after that date, the accruement does not begin until 90 days after employment.

For further information contact the San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement at (415) 554-6271 or www.sfgov.org/site/olse_index.asp?id=49389