Brown co-sponsors new sick day bill

LOGAN — Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has unveiled plans to co-sponsor the Healthy Families Act, legislation that would grant workers paid sick leave.

“Doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals advise that people stay home when their sick,” Brown said during a phone conference about the legislation. “It’s been a tough flu season for Americans. Up through Jan. 19, there were more than 3,100 flu hospitalizations. There were fewer than 100 up to that date last year.”

Subscription Required

An online service is needed to view this article in its entirety.

Have an online subscription?

Login Now

Need an online subscription?

Subscribe

You must login to view the full content on this page.

One of the key reasons Brown introduced this legislation is that he feels that, for at least some Americans, a day off work is also a day without pay.

“For too many Americans, sick day means a day without pay,” Brown said. “Business owners, like Heather Rocco-Geissler (CEO of Challenger Aviation Products), realize that healthy workers are often more productive workers. Doing the right thing is also right for business.

“But not all employers recognize this,” Brown continued, “and many workers are left without unions to stand up for them. The Healthy Families Act would allow American workers to earn the sick leave that would once have been negotiated on their behalf by unions through collective bargaining. Paid sick days save employers money. They reduce turnover and help increase productivity. Paid sick days are vital to maintaining public health.”

Brown said that having paid sick time is a must, stating that businesses can benefit from giving their employees paid time off.

“Businesses understand that this is good business,” he said. “When workers show up to work sick they are less productive and they will make others sick. It’s good for morale and there’s very little evidence of abuse. Workers consider this a benefit.”

To read the rest of the article, click on the source link above.

Brown co-sponsors new sick day bill »