Reports indicate that the executive order from the Obama administration mandating 56 hours of paid sick leave for government contractors may stay intact under the Trump administration, at least for the moment.
The rule from the Department of Labor was issued in 2016 and applied to more than one million federal contractors. It went into effect for any contracts awarded after the first of this year.
Once the Trump administration took office though, many expected a GOP reversal of the order, and some in the administration early on discussed overturning the rule. But Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee decided not to pursue actions that would get rid of the rule, making it safe for the moment.
Trump's daughter, Ivanka, has been an advocate for paid parental leave, some experts note. GOP leaders and those in the administration also seem to be focusing more on the overtime law passed under Obama, as well as his Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order.
The way the paid sick leave rule stands now, the 56 hours can be used for an employee's health needs, but also to care for a family member who is sick or even to accompany a family member to doctor's appointments and other health related appointments.
Keeping the rule isn't a permanent decision though. Current Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta is waiting for confirmation from the full Senate, and could take the rule in a different direction if he chooses.
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