Knowledge Is POWER: Here’s How Philadelphia Businesses Can Comply With The City’s New Employment Protections
Philadelphia employers now face more investigations and stiffer punishment under a new law the mayor approved last week. The POWER Act, signed on May 27 and taking effect immediately, adds sweeping worker protections concerning wages, paid sick leave, and retaliation for workplace complaints . It also enhances the Philadelphia Department of Labor’s enforcement powers while increasing penalties and damages against employers who violate the city’s worker protection laws. Here are five key provisions employers should review plus a four-step action plan for compliance. The Bigger Picture In the last decade, Philadelphia has granted more workplace protections to workers and heightened compliance requirements for employers, including wage requirements , mandatory paid sick leave , a “ fair workweek ” law , and a domestic worker bill of rights . In 2020, the city created its own Department of Labor (DOL) and vested it with investigatory and enforcement powers. Now with the l...