ANN ARBOR, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — A new law proposed by several Ann Arbor city council members would ensure that workers who stand all day can sit when it doesn’t interfere with their job duties.
“This is something that is implemented at the state level in about 10 different states,” said Ann Arbor City Councilwoman Ayesha Ghazi Edwin, who co-sponsored the law.
Ghazi Edwin said she was inspired to bring it to the council after her hairdresser, who had been experiencing back pain, was told by her employer she could not sit down during an appointment.
“My hairdresser explained that she would only be able to sit if she got a note from her doctor, but at the time, she didn’t have health insurance,” said Ghazi Edwin. “So, that started this research and exploration into the right to sit.”
The law has been in the works for the past year and was introduced at the city council’s Sept. 16 meeting, where many community members shared their experience working through pain on the job.