Pointers to sick leave legislation efforts welcome (random)

[elainegrey]

I'll be writing my congress critters, state and national, but would welcome notice if anyone sees organized efforts to encourage legislation to allow sick leave or extended sick leave as we try to slow the spread of the virus.

Dear Congresscritter,

As I have addressed the CDC's advice to prepare for increased COVID-19 cases in North Carolina by reviewing and acting on the advice of the NC DHHS [1], I realize how thankful i am for my employment that allows me to work from home regularly. I am aware, though, of my friends who work in retail, and of employers that have merged vacation and sick leave into "paid time off." I recognize that there is nothing to protect their livelihoods if they choose to protect the community by staying home despite the lack of protection for their employment.

I ask that the legislature consider a number of actions to protect all of us and compensate those who are economically affected:

First, mandate that workers receive paid time off if they fall ill, or if they need to care for an ailing family member. Ideally, this would apply to all illnesses at all times, because the flu itself is a public health risk. If North Carolina cannot address the general public health issue of contagious disease like the flu, at least the state could address COVID-19.

Second, defray the cost of emergency sick leave for employers by allowing businesses to claim a one-time tax credit.

I'm sure there are many ways to address the specific concern of not punishing workers for doing the right thing and these ideas (outlined more in [2]) are not the only way to meet that goal: please, protect North Carolina workers before the crisis is on the state.

Thank you,



[1] https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/governor%E2%80%99s-task-force-encourages-north-carolinians-increase-preparedness
[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/03/opinion/trump-coronavirus-sick-leave.html

Comments

[cmcmck]

People here have been told that sick pay will be paid from the start of a self isolation (it's usually a few days in) and the majority of companies say they'll continue to pay people if they have to do so.

[elainegrey]

I believe, perhaps good evidence, that the English generally have better labor practices than in the US. Here, not everyone gets sick pay.

[tamena]

some states have mandated sick pay, I wish they'd do that here. My company has said they are not penalizing people for sick time out of work until the end of April as of right now. I wish they'd tell us they'll pay us too. Working with the public SUCKS sometimes

[elainegrey]

I was thinking about you as well as some other folks when i wrote. I hope you stay well and can get your knee cared for without covid-19 affecting you.

[egret]

Here in NYC, Mayor de Blasio is promising grants of up to $6K for small business (5 or fewer employees) to cover the costs of continuing to pay said employees while they are out sick (or possibly to pay for replacements or make up losses but not fire the employees - it was confusing but it was about sick employees at small businesses not losing their jobs). For companies with up to 100 employees there was a zero interest loan program for up to $10K.

Anyway, I saw it on the news tonight in an excerpt from a press conference held if not today than quite recently.

[elainegrey]

That's great news!