Allentown City Council to Discuss Paid Sick Leave Initiative at July 22 Meeting

July 15, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Allentown City Council will discuss a citizens’ initiative to require some businesses to provide paid sick leave at a July 22 meeting.

Council met Wednesday and noted the bill and the extra meeting to discuss it. No further action was taken.

The July 22 meeting will be for discussion of the initiative, “Amending the City of Allentown Public Health Code by adding Chapter 421, Paid Sick Leave Act, to improve the public health by requiring certain businesses to allocate sick time to employees.”

If and when a vote is held on such a bill isn’t known yet.

The bill is long but the main part is “All employees of employers with fifteen (15) or more employees shall accrue a minimum of one (1) hour of paid sick time for every thirty (30) hours worked in Allentown unless the employer provides a faster accrual rate.”

Some people will welcome this. Some will call it a case of government overreach.

Allentown City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, in City Hall. Agendas are subject to change. Check the city website closer to the meeting date.