In 2007 and 2008, Schwartz shepherded the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act through the Council.
The law, which was adopted in March 2008, requires District employers to give their workers paid time off to address their health needs or those of a family member.

The bill faced significant opposition from the District's business community, as well as from several of Schwartz's colleagues on the Council.
The law made the District the second jurisdiction in the U.S. to create a mandated sick leave requirement, following San Francisco.
 The D.C. law represents the first time a paid sick days requirement was adopted by a city- or state-level legislative body in the U.S.; the San Francisco law was adopted as a ballot initiative.
The D.C. law also represents the first law to require employers to offer time paid time off to victims of stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence who need time off to seek medical care, shelter, counseling, a court order, or other services related to the domestic violence.
 The San Francisco law does not require paid leave for this purpose.
In 2007 and 2008, Schwartz shepherded the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act through the Council. The law, which was adopted in March 2008, requires District employers to give their workers paid time off to address their health needs or those of a family member.
The bill faced significant opposition from the District's business community, as well as from several of Schwartz's colleagues on the Council. The law made the District the second jurisdiction in the U.S. to create a mandated sick leave requirement, following San Francisco.  The D.C. law represents the first time a paid sick days requirement was adopted by a city- or state-level legislative body in the U.S.; the San Francisco law was adopted as a ballot initiative. The D.C. law also represents the first law to require employers to offer time paid time off to victims of stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence who need time off to seek medical care, shelter, counseling, a court order, or other services related to the domestic violence.  The San Francisco law does not require paid leave for this purpose.
Carol Schwartz