TAKE ACTION NOW: Pass The Healthy Families Act

Flu season along with H1N1 are in full swing right now.  We worry about catching it at schools, in airports, and work.  Often we hear of recommendations for people to stay home if they are sick so they don’t infect their co-workers and give themselves time to get well.  However, for some staying home when you are sick comes at a large cost-a day(s) worth of wages.  According to the Union Voice, “Thirty-nine percent of us have a difficult choice to make when we’re sick: go to work and risk infecting our co-workers (and risk making our illness worse), or stay home and put our finances and our jobs in jeopardy”. (hat tip: Sonny)

Thus, Senator Chris Dodd and Rep. Rosa DeLauro are pressing forward the passage of the Healthy Families Act, which was first introducted by Senator Edward Kennedy.

The Healthy Families Act would provide 7 paid sick days to all workers at companies with at least 15 employees, and would prevent employers from retaliating against workers who get sick. The bill has 113 sponsors in the House and 21 sponsors in the Senate, and has been endorsed by the Obama administration.

This bill would ensure that 3/4 of workers in the food and service industry who do not get paid sick days will be able to stay home rather than come into contact with their co-workers and the public.  Taking action to pass this bill will be a positive step forward in fighting the spread of H1N1.

TAKE ACTION NOW by clicking here and sending your congressional representative an e-mail asking him/her to support this bill.