RES 2014-16 UNPAID HOLIDAYS FOR REASONS OF FAITH OR CONSCIENCERESOLUTION NO. 2014-16
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, implementing SSB 5173 relating to two unpaid
holidays for city employees for a reason of faith or
conscience or an organized activity conducted under the
auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious
organization.
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2014, the State Legislature approved, and
Washington's Governor signed, Substitute Senate Bill 5173, which became effective on
June 12, 2014 ( "SSB 5173 "); and
WHEREAS, SSB 5173 provides that in all Washington cities, employees shall be
entitled to two unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith or conscience or an
organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or
religious organization; and
WHEREAS, SSB 5173 further provides that the employee may select the days on
which the employee desires to take the two unpaid holidays after consultation with the
employer pursuant to guidelines to be promulgated by ordinance or resolution of the
legislative authority of the city; and
WHEREAS, SSB 5173 also provides that the employer must allow the employee
to take the holidays on days specified by the employee unless the employee's absence
would impose an undue hardship on the employer or the employee is necessary to
maintain public safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adopt this resolution in accordance with
SSB 5173; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council hereby approves the provision of two unpaid
holidays per calendar year for City employees, which unpaid holidays may be taken for
the purposes of faith or conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices
of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization. Such unpaid holidays may
be taken on days selected by the employee after consultation with the employee's
managers. The employee's managers shall evaluate requests by considering the desires
of the employee, the impact on the City and the employee's program including, without
limitation, scheduled work, anticipated peak workloads, response to unexpected
emergencies, the availability, if any, of a qualified substitute, and consideration of the
other factors that would constitute an undue hardship on the City. The unpaid holiday
may not be taken on the day specified by the employee if to do so would impose an
undue hardship on the City or the employee is necessary to maintain public safety. The
term "undue hardship" has the meaning contained in the rule adopted by the Office of
Financial Management to implement SSB 5173. The two unpaid holidays allowed by
this section must be taken during the same calendar year, if at all; they do not carry over
from one year to the next.
Section 2. The City Council requests that the administration take the steps
necessary to ensure the proper implementation of SSB 5173, with an effective date of
June 12, 2014.
Section 3. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such decision shall not
affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section 4. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the effective date of
this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
PASSED by the City Council this 14th day of July, 2014.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 14`h day of July, 2014.
By: �4,, of .
Anne S. Blair, Mayor
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATE:
Rosalind D. Lassoff, CMC
City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: June 25, 2014
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: July 14, 2014
RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -16