Business Owner Mark Horton speaks at his restaurant, Woodman’s Bar and Grill,  about why he provides paid sick days. Horton comments that, “forcing employees to work when they’re sick is dangerous and short-sighted.  Sick employees are likely to infect others, including customers!  That easily poses a far greater threat to productivity than a paid day off.” April Thibodeau, Organizer [...]

Thanks to the Lewiston Sun Journal’s editorial board for endorsing LD 1665! Their January 14th editorial supporting LD 1665 asserted that paid sick days, “needs reasoned consideration. If we’re a nation serious about health care reform, reducing the spread of illness is the best place to start.” Read the whole piece here.

Paid sick days are a job saver and a health saver…moreover, they make good economic sense for Maine’s businesses! Kevin Miller, researcher from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) reported that “Employers statewide will save $37 million annually as a result of the proposed law through a combination of factors including reducing worker turnover, [...]

But it sure was exciting! This past Thursday, January 14, the Joint Committee on Labor held a public hearing for LD 1665: Paid Sick/Safe days. The committee room was packed! Doctors, nurses, workers, parents, advocates, faith leaders, business owners and even a researcher from DC all turned out to speak in support of the legislation. [...]

January 14, 2010 – First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the Department of Labor on the work-life imbalance. She commented that, ” the constant struggle to meet our responsibilities both as employees, but also as breadwinners, and mothers and fathers.  It’s one of those issues that we, as a society, still haven’t quite figured out [...]

Former director of Maine Bureau of Health and Physician for Social Responsibility, Lani Graham, speaks in support of LD 1665  before the Joint Committee on Labor at the public hearing this January.

The campaign for paid sick days is active on the state, municipal, level all over the country! Watch Gloria Steinem speak at a rally for paid sick days in New York City.

Health experts and advocates joined Senate President Libby Mitchell to discuss the results of a recent Health Impact Assessment on paid sick day policy in Maine. In an interview, Mitchell asks us to consider workers who want to work and look after their family but simply cannot take a day off to get well.