Even a Mild Outbreak is a Major Problem for Workers Without Paid Sick Days

As the number of Americans getting H1N1 climbs, millions of Americans have called in sick, stayed home, and gotten better -- or taken care of their sick children -- without much fanfare. But the 60 million Americans who do not have any paid sick leave do not have that option. Calling in sick means forfeiting pay or even losing their jobs. So instead, many will choose to go to work, further spreading the disease and prolonging their illness.

Three out of four "low-wage" workers in the United States have no sick leave. And 94 million workers cannot use sick leave to care for sick family members.

The fact that tens of millions of Americans do not have any paid sick days is a sad state of affairs in normal times. In a pandemic so ubiquitous it's worthy of being named a national emergency by the President of the United States, it's foolhardy.

This week, National Public Radio reported on the realities of working without sick leave benefits during a pandemic. They spoke to Marcy from Southern California, who admitted that she goes to work when she's sick, even if her illness is infectious. She told listeners, "I'm conflicted, you know, because I don't want other people who get what I have. You know, I really don't... I bring hand sanitizer and I try not to touch things that people - other people use, but I still come in because paying the bills to me is more important. You know, I don't really have a choice."

Marcy's right. She won't have a choice about staying home until U.S. sick leave policies are changed. Some members of Congress have tried for years to address the situation, but real action has yet to be taken. Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-CT) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced the Healthy Families Act this year, which would require businesses with more than 15 employees to provide workers with up to seven paid sick days every year. The bill would also ensure workers are not penalized for getting themselves or their kids vaccinated during the work day.

With H1N1 all around us, reminding us why sick leave is so essential, it's time for Congress to pass these common sense reforms, to make sure every employee in America can have piece of mind when they or their children get sick.

America's businesses don't need to wait for Congress to act. Employers can step up and provide sick leave to all their employees. Even providing tiered sick leave plans that allow for sick leave during an acute health crisis like the H1N1 outbreak would make a difference.

People shouldn't have to choose between protecting the health of their families and a paycheck, especially during a pandemic. The sick leave protections proposed in the Healthy Families Act are important for ensuring that all Americans, regardless of their economic status, can take time off when they or their kids get sick. But the proposed sick and family leave policies are also essential for containing the spread of infectious disease in America's places of work. Let's face it, no matter how tough the economy is right now, inviting H1N1 into the work place is simply bad for business.

 

Follow Jeffrey Levi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HealthyAmerica1

Comments

[mofmars333]

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http://www.thevaccination.com/article/2/Should-I-get-the-new-H1N1-vaccine.html


Mercury-Free Flu Shots Available: But Vitamin D and Homeopathy Better Prevent the Flu

http://www.naturalnews.com/027362_Vitamin_D_homeopathy_the_flu.html


Profit Driven Swine Flu Propaganda - Pump Up the Volume - Part Five

http://www.naturalnews.com/027363_autism_vaccines_swine_flu.html


Please see important matter addressed to President Obama & his Administration in the comment section at;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/24/obama-declares-swine-flu_n_332617.html

[Julia Bailey]

You're not educating when you pass on such non-scientific links.

[Sinick]

I hate to break it to you but there is no way that legislated paid sick days will ever see the light of day because big Business owns Congress and beyond lock, stock and barrel.

They already have:

1) Minimized increases in the minimum wage
2) Lobbied for more H1 visas
3) Kept paid family leave off of the table.
4) Paid women less than men for doing the same job
5) Largely eliminated sick days
6) Largely eliminated paid vacation
7) Largely eliminated overtime pay
8) Largely eliminated pensions
9) Virtually eliminated severance pay
10) Significantly eliminated employee health insurance plans
11) Used health insurance as iron handcuffs
12) Opposed immigration reform as a means to cheaper labor
13) Used the profits attained from 1-12 to pay upper management obscene compensation
14) Screwed their shareholders (the little guys, not Wall Street investors) with obscene compensation to their upper management
15) Virtually erased any semblance of worker loyalty.

Big Business is not going to give the workers anything, any time soon. They flat-out don't care if you get sick. With the high unemployment rate (which they love) they have their pick of workers. If you get sick, they'll replace you with: another worker that doesn't need or want benefits; an illegal immigrant; an imported worker with an H1 visa; a woman at a lower rate (better yet, one whose husband has health insurance); or a desperate male head-of-household (at lower rate and with no benefits).