Help your state legislators understand why paid sick and safe days matter

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

State lawmakers are studying paid sick and safe days bills - and they need to hear your stories!

UPDATED – 01/20/2012, 4:32 PM

Washington lawmakers are studying two Paid Sick and Safe Days bills during this legislative session (House Bill 2508 and Senate Bill 6229) – and they need to hear from you!

Please contact your legislators now to tell them why Paid Sick and Safe Days are important for you and your family’s health and economic security.

And if you’re able, come down to Olympia to show your support for the legislation at these committee hearings:

  • Tues, Jan 24, 1:30-3:30 pm, Cherburg Senate Hearing Room 4: Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee
  • Wed, Jan 25, 1:30-3:30 pm, Joint Legislative Office Building, House Hearing Rm C: Labor and Workforce Development Committee

You can learn more about the proposed legislation in this handy overview.

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Seattle is getting down to the details on paid sick days – and your input is crucial!

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Eli Lanczos testifies at a Seattle City Council hearing in favor of paid sick days

Crossposted from the Washington Family Leave Coalition:

You helped pass paid sick days in Seattle – but the devil is in the details. As the city begins drafting the rules that will actually implement the new ordinance, your input is crucial!

By attending one of these meetings, you can help ensure Seattle’s Paid Sick Days ordinance is a success!:

  • Tuesday, January 24, 2-3:30 p.m.
    Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landis Room
  • Wednesday, February 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
    Meadowbrook Community Center, Room 22
  • Thursday, February 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
    Jefferson Community Center, Hassselburg Hall
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Washington state Legislature introduces Paid Sick Days bills

Posted on January 17, 2012 by

Via the Washington Family Leave Coalition:

Last week, HB 2508 and SB 6229 were introduced in Washington’s legislature by a group of 18 legislators from the House and Senate. These bills would establish minimum standards for paid sick and safe leave for workers across the state of Washington – similar to a standard adopted by the Seattle City Council in September 2011.

The Washington Family Leave Coalition will be working with legislators on the Paid Sick and Safe Leave bills in the coming weeks – but we need your help. Public hearings on the bills will be held in late Januray, and we need people who can share personal testimony about importance of paid sick days for working people and families.

If you can help, please contact Marilyn Watkins.

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The Cost of Not Taking a Sick Day

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

From The Atlantic:

Your nose is running, your throat is scratchy, and your eyes are burning. But you drag yourself out of bed, dress, and head to the office anyway feeling virtuous and sick. Once there, you proceed to share your virus with your coworkers. But at least you showed up to get the job done, right?

Wrong, according to a new study. Presenteeism — attending work while ill — is not always a smart choice for individuals or the organizations for which they work. It is entirely possible that a worker who is ill may be present physically, but mentally he or she might as well be home in bed.

A flu or cold virus or other illness spreading among coworkers can mean the loss of more than one employee’s productivity. It can paralyze entire departments. The study found that certain organizational cultures tend to promote presenteeism, or at least discourage absenteeism.

For the study, Gary Johns, a management professor at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business surveyed 444 people, asking about their job requirements, work experience, the numbers of days they had been out sick (absenteeism), and the number of days they had come to work feeling ill (presenteeism).

Read more from The Atlantic: The Cost of Not Taking a Sick Day »

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Please attend: Public meetings to discuss the Seattle Paid Sick Leave Ordinance

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

Eli Lanczos testifies at a Seattle City Council hearing in favor of paid sick days

You helped pass paid sick days – but the devil is in the details. The new law becomes effective September 1, and the Seattle Office for Civil Rights is starting now to prepare administrative rules and an outreach plan.

Community input now is important to make the Paid Sick Days law a success. We urge you to attend a meeting and make your voice heard!

Tuesday, January 24, 2-3:30 p.m.
Seattle City Hall, Bertha Landis Room

Wednesday, February 1, 7-8:30 p.m.
Meadowbrook Community Center, Room 22

Thursday, February 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
Jefferson Community Center, Hassselburg Hall

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights will begin drafting Rules in March 2012. Learn more

The full timeline for ordinance implementation is available here »

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