CONTAGION SHOWS US BENEFITS OF PAID SICK LEAVE

The movie "Contagion" is closer to reality that we think, and one way to prevent such a pandemic is to offer paid sick leave to employees across the country.

In 2009, numerous people contracted the swine flu all across the United States, and it claimed thousands of American lives. One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of diseases like the swine flu is to stay home and recover. Unfortunately, that's not an option for 44 million working people in the United States who can't afford to lose a day's pay - or their entire job.

This is why we need a policy of paid sick leave in America.

Think about the last time you went to a restaurant. Chances are, your waiter didn't have paid sick leave and your burger may have come with a side of the flu.

Your child's day care teacher might bring strep throat to the playground. Or maybe another kid in the classroom will sneeze a cold on to the crayons because her parents couldn't afford to stay home with her.

Having paid sick days is beneficial to everyone: employees, employers and the general public. A study by the Institute for Women's Policy Research estimates that access to sick leave would reduce emergency room visits and cut health care costs by $1 billion annually. And businesses that have adopted paid sick leave policies have shown an increase in worker productivity and a drastic reduction in employee turnover.

Our politicians often talk about having strong family values. We shouldn't make parents choose between keeping their job or staying home with a sick child.

We need to start valuing the health of all working families to ensure that a pandemic stays on the big screen.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Lisa Bahr is the Milwaukee organizer for 9to5, a national organization protecting the rights of working women. She wrote this for Progressive Media Project, a source of liberal commentary on domestic and international issues; it is affiliated with The Progressive magazine. Readers may write to the author at: Progressive Media Project, 409 East Main Street, Madison, Wis. 53703; email: pmproj [at] progressive [dot] org; Web site: www.progressive.org. For information on PMP's funding, please visit http://www.progressive.org/pmpabout.html#anchorsupport.

This article was prepared for The Progressive Media Project and is available to MCT subscribers. McClatchy-Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of McClatchy-Tribune or its editors.

 2011, Lisa Bahr

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/07/3967456/contagion-shows-us-benefits-of.html#ixzz1aOZW0M1V