2025 Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act (ASSLA) Study

Project Overview

The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) engaged Bayne LLC to conduct a comprehensive research study evaluating employer compliance with the District's Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008 (ASSLA) and Earned Sick and Safe Leave Amendment Act of 2013 (ESSLA). The study was designed to assess the legislation's economic and operational impact on District businesses, examine employer compliance with workplace notification requirements, and identify potential employment practices that could circumvent the law's protections.

Bayne managed a multifaceted research initiative involving quantitative surveys, employer and employee roundtables, interactive assessments, government agency interviews, and policy analysis. The study examined compliance trends across several industries, including construction, cosmetology, daycare, education, hospitality, and security.

The engagement required research design, survey development and administration, participant recruitment, stakeholder engagement, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and preparation of a comprehensive report with actionable policy recommendations.

Scope of Services

Research Design and Survey Administration

Bayne developed and implemented a web-based research survey targeting District employers and employees to assess awareness, compliance, workplace practices, and the economic effects of paid sick and safe leave requirements.

Responsibilities included:

• Developed separate employer and employee survey instruments addressing workplace policies, employee rights, leave benefits, regulatory compliance, and business operations.

• Distributed surveys through targeted email and SMS outreach using approximately 12,000 business contacts.

• Collected and analyzed 673 survey responses, including 218 qualifying employers and 226 qualifying employees.

• Conducted industry-specific analysis to identify compliance challenges and differences in employer and employee perspectives.

• Evaluated trends in workplace notification requirements, wage practices, employee benefits, and business profitability.

Stakeholder Engagement and Qualitative Research

Bayne coordinated multiple stakeholder engagement activities to supplement the survey findings and provide additional insight into the practical application of the legislation.

Services included:

• Facilitated three stakeholder roundtables, including one in-person session and two virtual discussions with employers and other stakeholders.

• Conducted interactive knowledge assessments during the District's Inaugural Wage Theft Awareness Conference using Kahoot! technology.

• Coordinated semi-structured interviews with representatives of the DOES Office of Wage-Hour and the DC Office of the Attorney General.

• Developed interview guides, roundtable discussion questions, and participant engagement materials.

• Gathered qualitative feedback regarding enforcement practices, administrative challenges, worker protections, and opportunities to improve compliance.

Data Analysis and Policy Reporting

Bayne synthesized quantitative and qualitative research findings into a comprehensive study evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the District's paid sick and safe leave laws.

The research team analyzed employer compliance, employee awareness, operational impacts, industry-specific challenges, and government enforcement practices.

Bayne prepared an approximately 80-page research report containing survey findings, comparative analysis, stakeholder feedback, data visualizations, and policy recommendations. Recommendations addressed workplace notification requirements, targeted industry outreach, employer education, compliance resources, and improved data collection methodologies.

Results and Impact

Bayne successfully conducted a comprehensive research and stakeholder engagement initiative supporting DOES's assessment of workplace protections and regulatory compliance.

Key accomplishments included:

• 673 survey responses collected from District employers and employees.

• 444 qualifying employer and employee respondents included in the primary research sample.

• Approximately 12,000 business contacts targeted through survey outreach.

• Three stakeholder roundtables conducted to gather qualitative feedback.

• Two government agency interviews completed with officials responsible for labor law enforcement.

• Six industries examined through targeted compliance analysis.

• Comprehensive research report developed with quantitative findings, qualitative analysis, and actionable policy recommendations.

• Identified a 21-percentage-point difference between employer-reported compliance with workplace posting requirements and employee-reported visibility of required notices.

Through this engagement, Bayne demonstrated its ability to manage complex government research projects requiring survey administration, stakeholder recruitment, qualitative and quantitative analysis, regulatory assessment, and policy development. The study provided DOES with evidence-based findings and recommendations to support improved employer compliance, worker education, and enforcement strategies across the District.