Legislators introduce bill on paid sick days
Washington – A lack of paid sick days leads to workers coming to work while ill and costs employers billions of dollars every year, according to two legislators who have introduced a bill that would allow workers to earn paid sick leave.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) on March 20 introduced the Healthy Families Act (S. 631 and H.R. 1286). Under the legislation, workers whose employers do not already provide paid sick leave will be able to accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked – with a maximum of 56 hours of sick leave.
According to a press release from Harkin and DeLauro, 70 percent of low-wage workers have no paid sick days.
Employees coming to work while sick can cost employers up to $160 billion each year due to lost productivity and infecting co-workers, the release stated.
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