Washington Work and Family Coalition

Sick and safe leave is a lifeline for workers

By Washington State Representative Roger Freeman

freeman-roger — Representative Roger Freeman

Last year, I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Here’s the thing you think about when you have stage four cancer — there is no stage five.

I was concerned. Not only for myself, but for my family.

Fighting cancer means treatment and surgery. Lots of doctor’s appointments. Lots of time off work. As the sole breadwinner for my wife and two children I wondered, with all my time at the hospital and in recovery, how will we pay for basics like groceries and our mortgage? How will we not lose everything?

I am one of the lucky ones. I have paid sick leave. I was able to make all my appointments. I was able to put my energy and effort into fighting my illness, not worrying if my family would lose our home.

But there are one million Washingtonians who have no paid sick leave. When they get sick, they must choose between getting a paycheck and getting well. If their child is sick they must choose between staying home to care for the child and making sure there is food on the table at the end of the month.

The state House passed HB 1313, allowing all workers to build up some safe and sick leave.

It is critical during times of health, for parents to be able to build up time sick leave in case a catastrophic event occurs. For me, having sick leave was a lifesaver. My family had enough to worry about. For them, my sick leave meant peace of mind.

HB 1313 also provides that employees can use built up leave for safety. If anyone needs to go to court to obtain a protection order against an abuser, and attend subsequent court dates, the leave can be used for this. No person should be made to choose between the safety and making a rent payment.

I understand the concerns of the business community. I know providing benefits for employees are expensive. That’s why I am pleased that HB 1313 bill has a sliding scale to protect small businesses. The smallest are exempt, and the larger the company, the more safe and sick leave a worker would be able to accrue. And in the end, businesses who invest in a healthy workforce will be more productive and more profitable.

HB 1313 is about creating the kind of kind of society which we want to live. Do we want to live where someone diagnosed with cancer is forced to lose their job and their home in order to get well? A society where a parent is forced to leave their sick child home alone? Or, a society where government and business respect human dignity.

It’s time for the Senate to pass HB 1313, providing some safe and sick leave to all workers. Please, call your Senator and ask him or her to support HB 1313.

Paid safe and sick leave is about protecting yourself and your family. Paid sick and safe leave is about preserving humanity.

Via The Stand

Workers, working family advocates urge Senate to pass paid sick and safe leave

Yesterday, advocates from business, domestic violence prevention, senior citizen services, organized labor and workers from the retail, restaurant and grocery industry came together to urge the Washington State Senate to pass paid sick and safe leave.

Panelists

Monica Bryant, grocery worker
Traci Underwood, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Boris Popovic, Main Street Alliance of Washington

Panelists

Walt Bowen, Washington Senior Lobby
Susan Hedman, Macy’s worker
Adrienne Thompson, PTE Local 17
Marilyn Watkins, Economic Opportunity Institute

Panelists

Steve Segal, Local 443
Dionne Foster, Restaurant worker

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene Co-Sponsors the Healthy Families Act

Flu season peaks this month. Public health officials tell us to stay home at the first sign of fever but millions of American workers can’t afford to take off work and far too many fear that staying home with the flu will cost them their job.

We all need paid sick days.

The Healthy Families Act would create national standards for earned paid sick and safe leave time, ensuring every worker has access to sick leave when they need it.

The legislation is widely supported, with over 140 co-sponsors in the U.S. House and Senate. Washington state Representatives Rick Larsen and Jim McDermott as well as Senator Patty Murray have co-sponsored the bill since it was introduced in March 2013.

But this month we got some welcome news – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene has signed on as a co-sponsor the bill in the House, the only second Washington woman in Congress to do so.

“Our economy thrives when working families are both healthy and financially stable. That’s why we must update our workplace policies to ensure families don’t need to choose between caring for their health or keeping their paycheck,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene. “The Healthy Families Act is a commonsense proposal that will help give workers the security they need to succeed both at work and at home, and I’m proud to be a cosponsor.”

We thank Congresswoman DelBene for her support, but we know Congress is unlikely to act on sick and safe leave soon. That’s why it’s so important for the Washington State Legislature to pass HB 1313, the statewide sick and safe days bill. The state House passed HB 1313 in January, but the bill must pass out of Senate committee by end of next week to move forward. Take action today by contacting your Senator and urging them to support sick and safe leave.