Worker Justice: Unions and Workers Deserve a Voice
Why Paid Sick and Safe Days Matter
Everyone needs a few days off at some point to attend medical appointments or care for a sick family member. The need is especially vital when safety from domestic violence is at stake. Paid sick days can and should include “safe days.”
Paid sick and safe days let us care for ourselves and our loved ones without losing our jobs or pay.
- Safety First: Paid safe days help people address issues like domestic violence by providing time for health, housing, legal matters, finances, and childcare.
- Caring for Kids: When your child is sick or injured, paid sick days let you be there to help them recover.
- Family Health: Without paid sick days, parents often have to choose between financial stability and their children’s health, sometimes sending a child to school sick or skipping medical care.
- Job Security: Paid sick days ensure that our jobs and paychecks are safe when we need time off to care for ourselves or a family member.
THE PROBLEM
Lack of Access
1 in 4 workers in the U.S. don’t have any paid sick days. Some employers even penalize workers for taking them.
No National Law
There’s no U.S. law guaranteeing paid sick or safe days, forcing many to choose between health and financial security.
Women’s Health
Women need paid sick leave for their own health but often go to work sick, send sick kids to school, or skip preventive exams.
Economic Impact
THE SOLUTION
National Guarantee
Minimum Standard
Inclusive
Unions are more likely to bargain for paid sick days
That is why a higher percentage of workers covered (93% compared to 75%) under a collective bargaining agreement have paid sick days. Laws that promote unionization and collective bargaining are a major solution for all care policies.
KEY DATA POINTS
- In the U.S. one in four workers don’t have a single paid sick day. This is overwhelmingly the case for workers who earn low wages and those in service industry jobs.
- Rural vs. Urban: Rural workers have less access to paid sick leave than urban workers, often going to work sick or skipping healthcare. A national law can help fix this.
- Job Security: Nearly one in four U.S. adults have been fired or threatened with job loss for taking time off to recover from illness or care for a loved one.
- Economic Impact: Access to paid sick leave is a true benefit for worker’s health and economic outcomes.
- Financial Strain: Missing pay for three sick days can mean losing a month’s grocery budget, especially for single parents.
BILL WE’RE TRACKING