Vicki Shabo
A Subversion of Democracy

A Subversion of Democracy

Last month, Gov. Rick Snyder dealt a blow to democracy by gutting the state’s paid sick time law. This was just one of the intentional subversions of democratic process that occurred in Michigan and Wisconsin in the lame duck sessions.

A Subversion of Democracy

Rhode Island Becomes Eighth State With a Paid Sick Days Law

Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act today, making Rhode Island the eighth state to enact a paid sick days law and bringing the national total to 40 jurisdictions with such laws nationwide. Some 100,000 Rhode Islanders will gain the right to earn paid sick time when the law takes effect in July.

A Subversion of Democracy

15 Years, Five Key Lessons: California Continues to Lead the Nation Toward Paid Leave for All

With recent attention to the country’s dismal record of making paid leave available to workers, and growing consensus around the need for a national solution, it’s easy to forget the decades of work and milestone victories that have made this moment possible. One of the first happened 15 years ago this week, when California created the nation’s first state paid family leave program.

A Subversion of Democracy

New School Year, Same Uncertainty for Parents Without Paid Sick Days

For kids, heading back to school can be an anxious and exciting time – figuring out new routines, adjusting to different teachers and classmates and navigating changes in social and academic environments… Employed parents stress about changes too, but the millions of moms, dads and caregivers without paid sick time also have to worry about cold and flu season and what will happen if their kids get sick.

A Subversion of Democracy

Voters in Arizona and Washington Choose Paid Sick Days

Capping off an already historic year of progress for paid sick days, voters in Arizona and Washington approved ballot measures last week that will mean the nation will soon have seven statewide paid sick days laws. Thirty-nine jurisdictions now do – or will soon – guarantee workers the right to earn paid sick time, and efforts to protect and build upon these victories has become even more important.

A Subversion of Democracy

Promising Paid Sick Time News for Nearly 830,000 More Workers

Right on schedule, the U.S. Department of Labor today proposed a rule that will ultimately give 828,000 workers who service federal contracts expanded access to paid sick time, including nearly 437,000 workers who are currently not guaranteed a single paid sick day. This is a much-needed and encouraging step toward implementing the executive order President Obama issued on Labor Day.