Healthy families act (proposed legislation)

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) have introduced legislation known as the “Healthy Families Act,” that would guarantee that every worker could accrue up to seven paid sick days per year.

The two legislators were joined by 30 other senators and by 138 members of the House of Representatives.

“It is an international embarrassment that the United States of America remains the only major country on Earth not to guarantee paid sick days to workers,” Sanders said. “It’s not radical to ensure that every worker in America receives the paid sick days that they need.”

“Federal law does not guarantee working Americans a single paid sick day,” DeLauro said. “No one should face the impossible choice of either caring for their health or keeping their paycheck, especially during the current cost of living crisis.” DeLauro also notes that “a lack of paid sick days hurts the American economy by reducing productivity, increasing the spread of illness which leads to higher health care costs, and causes financial strain on workers.”

Low-income workers without access. According to the lawmakers, the U.S. today is the only major country in the world that does not provide paid time off for short-term illnesses. Currently, nearly 27 million workers lack any paid sick time, including 20 percent of the private sector workforce and 7 percent of the public sector workforce. Also, just 58 percent of low-income, private-sector workers are able to access paid sick days. They note that workers with access to paid sick leave are 28 percent less likely to suffer nonfatal occupational injuries, and employers who provide paid sick leave see 25 percent less turnover in their workforce.

What it would provide. The Healthy Families Act would guarantee every worker in the country up to seven paid sick days each year, to be used to recover from their own illnesses, access preventive care, provide care to a sick family member, or attend school meetings related to a child’s health condition or disability. Workers would earn a minimum of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a minimum of 56 hours per year. It would also allow victims of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to use their paid sick days to recover or seek assistance. Employers will be allowed to use their existing policies if they exceed minimum standards.

SOURCE: Healthy Families Act, https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/KIN26104.pdf

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