From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
When 34 million workers can’t earn a single paid sick day, we have a problem.
That’s why we’re elated that just last week, U.S. Senator Murray and Representative DeLauro reintroduced the Healthy Families Act (HR 1516)— national paid sick days legislation — which is a true win-win-win for working families, businesses, people, and the economy!
Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor and advance the Healthy Families Act ASAP at https://action.momsrising.org/sign/HFA_2019!
The Healthy Families Act is historic legislation that would allow workers in businesses with 15 or more employees to earn up to seven job-protected paid sick days each year to be used to recover from their own illnesses, access preventive care, provide care to a sick family member, or attend school meetings related to a child’s health condition or disability. Workers in businesses with fewer than 15 employees would earn up to seven job-protected unpaid sick days each year to be used for the same reasons, unless their employers choose to offer paid sick days. [1]
Without the ability to earn paid sick days, working families are faced with impossible choices like sending a sick kid to school and going to work sick — or staying home and losing an invaluable day’s pay, or sometimes even losing their job.
TAKE ACTON: Tell your members of Congress to support the Healthy Families Act!
We’re the only developed nation in the world without a national paid sick days law and we’re overdue for a change on that! [2] Why? Well, for an average family without paid sick days, just 3.5 days of missed work is equivalent to an entire month of groceries. [3] And nearly one in five low-wage working mothers have been fired for needing time off because they or their child is sick. [4]
Without the opportunity to earn paid sick days, stories like these from Donna, Mary, and Annette below are par for the course:
- “I work in a factory where people come into work even when they are sick because they can’t afford to stay home. You can’t get well that way!” – Donna, Toledo, IL
- “I work at a daycare center. Kids come in when they are sick because parents have no other option. This is a public health issue for families with young children.” – Mary, Pella, LA
- “I know personally that it is gut wrenching to be sick enough to be unable to go to work, and knowing that my paycheck will be reduced and make everything, including medicine even harder to afford.” – Annette, Presto, PA
ACT NOW! Send your members of Congress a message about the importance of paid sick days!
Paid sick days are a big win for businesses because they reduce turnover cost, boost workplace morale, and help stop the spread of illness among workers. [5] Plus, employees coming to work sick because they don’t have access to paid sick days costs the national economy $160 billion annually because of lost productivity. [6] It’s no wonder so many businesses support paid sick days!
We’re building off unprecedented support for paid sick days across the nation. Twenty-one jurisdictions (cities and counties), eleven states, and the District of Columbia have already passed paid sick days for their residents and workers! [7] But access to paid sick days shouldn’t depend on your zip code – we need a national paid sick days standard!
Tell your members of Congress to co-sponsor the Healthy Families Act today!
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