Every work day in America, countless parents are forced to send sick children to school or go to work sick, because missing work will mean losing pay or risking their job. The consequences include more serious illnesses and recovery time, the spread of contagious illness at day care, school and work, and higher health care costs. And for those workers who stay home to recover or provide care to a sick child, the consequences include jeopardizing family economic security.

The Healthy Families Act would address this problem by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to let workers earn up to seven paid sick days a year — which could be used to recover from illness or care for a sick family member. The National Partnership for Women & Families and MomsRising will host a congressional briefing to discuss the imperative to pass this essential legislation at:

10 — 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 5
Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC 208
Washington, D.C.

NORC at the University of Chicago will review findings from its recent survey, Paid Sick Days: Attitudes & Experiences, at the event, and MomsRising will present video journals from its members on why paid sick days matter to families. Speakers include:

• Tom W. Smith, General Social Survey Director, NORC
• Vicki Shabo, Program Director, National Partnership For Women & Families
• Ruth Martin, Campaign Director, MomsRising

Senator Chris Dodd (CT) is co-host of the briefing. It is open to media.