Paid sick days: Their time has come

By Aaron Keating

Imagine waking up with the flu and choosing between going to work sick, or staying home and losing a day’s pay – or worse, your job.

For 190,000 people working in Seattle without paid sick days – many in restaurants and hotels, medical centers and long-term care facilities, even grocery stores – that’s a daily reality.

When a child is sick at school, parents shouldn’t have to worry about getting a negative performance review for leaving work to take them home. Nor should someone lose half a day’s pay to take their elderly parent to the doctor. That’s why I’m proud the Seattle City Council is considering a paid sick days ordinance to ensure people have paid sick days on the job.

More than 30 local businesses and 75+ community organizations worked together to get the ordinance introduced and passed unanimously out of committee. But now, a handful of corporate interests have emerged to oppose this common sense public health and family measure. They’re working to water down it with special exemptions and administrative barriers.

Help make sure every Seattle City Council member gets the message: “Paid sick days mean healthy, responsible prevention – don’t water it down!” Meet on the plaza outside City Hall at 1:45 p.m. on Monday, September 12; we’ll walk up the stairs together to Council Chambers for the 2 p.m. meeting and vote (600 Fourth Ave. 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104). We’ll have signs and stickers – we just need you!

I have a personal reason to support this ordinance: I’m the proud father of a 12-week old baby girl. You can guess I’ve had my share of sleepless nights – but it’s helped me realize how lucky I am.

Growing up, while my father worked full-time as an elementary school teacher, my mother did part-time accounting work, often from home. So when I got pneumonia and missed a week of kindergarten, she could stay home with me. Same when my brother got the chickenpox.

Like a lot of families today, my wife and I can’t afford to work part-time. But we’re lucky: both of our employers provide paid sick days. So when one of us takes our daughter to see our pediatrician, we don’t risk losing part of our paycheck – or worse, our job.

But the way I see it, luck shouldn’t determine whether you can take responsibility for your own and your family’s health. The flu and other illnesses spread quickly in our schools, workplaces, and retirement facilities. And if Seattleites can build software and airplanes for the world, we can certainly ensure everyone can work healthy and care for their families.

If you can’t come to the Council meeting to support the paid sick days ordinance, please email council@seattle.gov or send your letter of support to: Seattle City Council, PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025. Learn more at www.seattlehealthyworkforce.org.

Aaron Keating is a PSARA member and is Operations Director at the Economic Opportunity Institute