It's beginning to look a lot like back-to-school time! As parents across Pennsylvania are getting ready to send their kids back to school, they're double checking their school supplies list. New crayons, backpack, up-to-date vaccinations? Check. Earned sick days? Nope. Not yet. But that could change with your help.
TODAY the Pennsylvania State House is holding a hearing on earned sick days. Click here to tell your representatives that paid sick days are a necessity for PA families! http://action.momsrising.org/go/PA_8_17_10_PSD/322?ak_proof=1&akid=.1615744.3mbTu1&t=4
What's the scoop?
The earned sick time bill was introduced in 2009 but hasn't had much success advancing until now. The lead sponsor of the bill is holding a hearing *today* featuring public health and policy experts detailing how important earned sick days are to our families health and economic security.
A strong grassroots showing is critical to ensuring that this hearing is a success--and that the bill makes it out of committee and to the House floor for a vote. Your voice is needed! And, fortunately since summer is a busy time, you can make your voice heard in Harrisburg without having to drive there.
How? With one-click you can back up our partners in Harrisburg and send a message to your PA Representative to support earned sick days! http://action.momsrising.org/go/PA_8_17_10_PSD/322?ak_proof=1&akid=.1615744.3mbTu1&t=6
Why is earned paid sick time so critical?
We all know how fast the flu can travel through a workplace, school, or child care center, yet 46% of PA employees are not allowed by their employers to earn sick time. That means they have an impossible choice between going to work sick, and losing a day's pay (and possibly their jobs) if they stay home sick or with sick kids. This is a big problem - when sick folks aren't able to stay home, it puts everyone's health at risk - coworkers, restaurant patrons, school kids, and, well, everyone.
Earned sick time is good for working families, the public health and business. Earned sick time would help contain health care costs through prevention, early detection, and treatment of illness. With earned sick days, families will not be forced to send sick children to school and likely infect classmates and teachers; workers with paid sick days would not spread illness to their coworkers and customers; and businesses would benefit from more productive employees, higher employee morale and reduced turnover costs.
Don't forget to send a message to your PA Representatives today! http://action.momsrising.org/go/PA_8_17_10_PSD/322?ak_proof=1&akid=.1615744.3mbTu1&t=8
**And forward this to your friends and family so they can take action too!
Together we are a powerful force for women and families!
--Ruth, Donna, Julia, Anita, Mary, Kristin and the whole MomsRising.org team
P.S. Thanks to our partners at PathWays PA for their work on this important issue! You can learn more about them and the Pennsylvania earned sick days coalition at earnedsicktime.blogspot.com.
P.P.S. Want to share your story about paid sick days? Click here: http://action.momsrising.org/go/184?ak_proof=1&akid=.1615744.3mbTu1&t=13
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