Kennedy, Delauro Fight for Paid Sick Leave

KENNEDY, DELAURO FIGHT FOR PAID SICK LEAVE

Washington, D.C.-- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro joined America's working families in the fight for paid sick leave with the introduction of the Healthy Families Act. Kennedy and DeLauro, together with Debra Ness, the President of the National Partnership for Women and Children and Heidi Hartmann, President and CEO for the Institute for Women's Policy Research, rallied with workers who understand what it means to have to choose between a sick loved one at home, or keeping a job.

The legislation would allow America's working families to have seven paid days of sick leave a year?for themselves when they're sick, to take care of their children, parents or loved ones, and to also seek preventative care before illness strikes. Healthy Families also guarantees employers the ability to track paid sick leave and mandates a GAO study on how paid sick leave policies are implemented and the costs and benefits to employers.

"Paid sick days will help prevent the spread of illness like that. Taking time off to treat illness and injuries will save health costs in the long run. It will make an important difference for insurers, for hospitals and for the health of millions of Americans. It's long past time to provide paid sick days for workers," Kennedy said. "This bill is a first step to guarantee that every worker who needs sick leave has it and can afford to take it."

"Paid sick leave is a necessity to ensure that workers have the right to take time off to deal with their own medical needs, or those of their families," said DeLauro. "It is appalling that no federal law in the United States guarantees a single day of paid sick leave to employees-particularly when middle class families are trying so hard to make ends meet."

Baltimore public school teacher Karen Ingarman spoke to the crowd about the difficulties she faces everyday in her classroom when parents can't afford to take the day off of work to care for their sick children. She urged members of Congress to allow her to focus her attention on teaching her students, instead of caring for sick students who should be recuperating at home under the care of their parents.

Kennedy, a champion of worker's rights, argued that paid sick leave for America's working families should be a priority for this Congress, assuring the crowd that he and his fellow Democrats understand the real issues facing working Americans and will fight to see that those issues are addressed.

STATEMENT BY SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT

The ability of American families to live the American dream is becoming harder and harder. With each passing month, it's more difficult for families to earn a living -- to pay the mortgage and the doctor bills, and send their sons and daughters to college.

In the Bush economy, families are worried about their job security, their income, and the cost of living. They're working longer and harder and finding it more and more difficult to balance their work and their family responsibilities.

Most Americans assume that paid sick days are a right. They're not. Half of all American workers are not guaranteed the right to time off when they're ill, without losing their pay, or even their job.

In 1993, Congress and the Administration guaranteed unpaid leave for millions of working men and women to deal with serious medical problems.

It's time to build on this success, and ensure that millions of workers can also take time off when they need an annual check-up, when their children are sick with a cold, and when their ailing elderly parents need to be taken to the doctor.

Hard-working men and women deserve better. That's why Congresswoman DeLauro and I are introducing legislation to guarantee workers seven days of paid sick leave a year to care for their own medical needs and those of their family members. This proposal covers workers at all businesses, except small businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

This is a family issue. When my son was diagnosed with cancer in his leg as a child, and had to undergo surgery, I was able to take the time I needed to be there for him. But year after year, countless employees have to choose between the job they need and the family they love. Families deserve the flexibility to care for each other when they get sick.

It's an economic issue. Paid sick days actually save businesses money through reduced turnover and increased productivity.

A recent study by Cornell University examined the problem of employees coming to work despite medical problems. They found it costs business $180 billion annually in lost productivity.

It's also a public health issue. Too often, employees come to work sick and co-workers and many others can easily be infected. Recently, a court ruled that because of the lack of paid sick leave, a stomach virus in one worker infected 600 guests and 300 employees at the Reno Hilton Hotel in Nevada.

Paid sick days will help prevent the spread of illnesses like that. Taking time off to treat illnesses and injuries will save health costs in the long run. It will make an important difference for insurers, for hospitals, and for the health of millions of Americans.

It's long past time to provide paid sick days for workers. This bill is a first step to guarantee that every worker who needs sick leave has it and can afford to take it.

Summary of the Healthy Families Act

The Healthy Families Act will guarantee seven days of annual paid leave for workers to address medical needs and care for family members. It will:

o Guarantee paid sick days for an employee's medical condition; an employee's doctor's appointment, or other preventive or diagnostic treatment; and to care for a family member with comparable needs;

o Provide prorated leave for part-time employees working between 20 and 30 hours a week or between 1,000 and 1,500 hours a year (seven days for workers with more than 30 hours a week);

o Apply to all employers with at least 15 or more employees;

o Place no new burden on employers that already meet the minimum standards;

o Encourage employers to provide greater benefits;

o Allow employers to request certification for leave for employees who request 3 or more consecutive days. Employers must keep health information confidential and separate from personnel files.

o Require employers to post notice of the availability of paid sick leave and how to file an enforcement action.

o Allow an employee or the Secretary of Labor to bring civil action in federal or state court for equitable relief or to recover damages.

o Require a GAO study of how these paid sick leave policies are implemented and the benefits and costs of the leave to employers and employees.

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