Legislation Introduced (again) for Paid Sick Leave

Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate that would require employers with 15 or more employees to provide workers with up to seven days paid sick leave. The proposed Healthy Families Act has been introduced in Congress several times since 2004.

The bills, introduced last week in the Senate by Tom Harkin (D-IA) and in the House by Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), are identical. The legislation would enable workers to earn up to one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and up to 56 hours of paid leave in a calendar year.

“I believe that everyone should be able to take care of themselves and their families if they are sick without having to worry about losing their jobs,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Two-thirds of lower-income, private-sector workers do not have a single paid sick day,”

“Paid sick days give families the security they need to care for a sick child or an ailing parent, or to recover from an illness,” said Sen. Harkin. “American workers should never be forced to choose between the jobs they need and the families they love.”

To read the full text of the legislation, click here.

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