Your Health or Your Job?

For too many American workers, the choice between their health and their job is one they are forced to face every time they or a family member gets sick. That's because nearly half of all private-sector workers in this country -- millions of Americans -- don't have the right to earn paid sick days. Fortunately, we can help change that, just asthe city council of Seattle did for Seattle residents this month.

Urge your representative to keep America's working families healthy and economically secure by cosponsoring the Healthy Families Act (S.984/H.R. 1876).

The Healthy Families Act would provide full-time employees the right to earn seven paid sick days a year to be used for their own medical needs or to tend to the medical needs of a family member. It would also allow workers to use paid sick time to recover from or seek assistance related to an incidence of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Part-time employees would earn a pro-rated share of paid sick days.

A 2009 study found that 163 countries worldwide -- including 14 of the world's 15 most economically competitive countries -- guarantee workers' right to earn paid sick days. In these tough economic times, the decision to stay home sick without pay is a very difficult one. And if your job and your economic security are on the line, it's a risk many workers can’t afford to take.

Take Action!

Urge your representative to cosponsor the Healthy Families Act (S.984/H.R. 1876).Simply click on the "Take Action" link in the upper right corner or visit AAUW's Two-Minute Activist page. Then follow the instructions to compose and send your message.

Want to do more to support earned sick days? Download AAUW’s resource kit now.

Remember: You can always help strengthen AAUW's efforts to support earned sick days by making a tax-deductible donation to AAUW’s Public Policy Fund!

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