The Other Health Reform
Saturday, November 14 2009
Last Tuesday, Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris went to Capitol Hill to testify about health reform. No – not that health reform. The other one:
The Healthy Families Act offers an important opportunity to provide workers with economic security by assuring that they have the ability to stay home if they are sick without fear of losing their jobs or being forced to go to work sick because they cannot afford to stay home. We support this bill and look forward to working with you on it as it moves through the legislative process.
Did you know that the United States is one of the only developed countries that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave to its workers? Too true, I’m afraid. Yes, FMLA guarantees unpaid leave for most workers, but many still don’t have any form of paid leave. So when they get sick, they come to work.
In addition to being a barbaric practice the lack of paid sick leave has also created an epidemiological problem: how do you stop the spread of H1N1 and other serious pandemics, when a significant number of workers are penalized for missing work? You don’t.
So the Healthy Families Act, first introduced in 2007, now has new life, thanks to swine flu. But it not only guarantees paid sick leave, it also permits workers to use their leave to care for sick family members. Consider how many single parents work crappy jobs – what do they do when the kid is sick?
The Healthy Families Act would be a huge step for sick people in this country – and their families. I know there are other bills hogging all the attention, but keep an eye on this one, too.
(Photo from Flickr user Photojonny by CC License)
Thank you for writing about this, Duncan. What an important issue.
I agree that people should be paid for sick time but I am concerned that some employees will abuse the situation.
Those that want 2 weeks off for every simple cold for example. I had one student take of 3 weeks for allergies. He never called during those 3 weeks but wanted a note. If we had seen him we might have helped him. I think he just wanted time off.
Then there are people who try to take off for valid reasons.
My other concern would be the paperwork that comes with this. I had a patient that missed 4 days for the flu. I received a 4 page form to complete on why he could not work. That was ridiculous.
Your post inspire me to write a blog post of my own. Thanks for the inspiration. Tell me what you think: Thank You, H1N1 Swine Flu… http://www.ohmyachesandpains.info/2009/12/thank-you-h1n1-swine-flu.html
Looking forward to hosting PFAM on Feb. 10th.
Happy New Year Duncan!