[I]n the United States, whether you have the time and financial support for caregiving too often depends on whether you happen to work for a company that offers paid sick days or paid family and medical leave. It likely also depends on whether lawmakers or your human resources department decide your loved one counts as “family.”

For survivors of domestic violence, maintaining your economic independence and financial security can be key to escaping your abuser and protecting your family.

Those of us who have paid sick time at our jobs take for granted that we can afford to go to the doctor for preventive care, or stay home when we’re contagious.

“Working families should not decide between paying their rent or being able to take care of themselves or their families,” said Ana Gonzalez, an advocate at the Workers Defense Project.

Whenever the Duluth City Council (Minn.) decides to hear it, the city’s earned sick and safe time task force is going to recommend “an ordinance be enacted requiring employers with more than five employees in Duluth provide earned sick and safe leave to all employees.”

Domestic violence and sexual assault victims will be able to take paid time off from work under a bill passed by the City Council Tuesday.

When a lack of health protections clashes with a sudden illness or a family member’s medical crisis, workers can become exhausted, less productive at work, and more prone to negative temperament at work and at home.

Austin City Council voted unanimously late Thursday night to develop a policy for private employers to offer paid sick leave to their workers.

As elected officials, Governor Hogan and I already have access to earned paid sick days. Don’t all Marylanders deserve that same opportunity?

The Rhode Island legislature considered a paid sick leave bill last year, but it didn’t get much traction. That’s when a number of different factors intervened.

The researchers found that workers without paid sick leave benefits reported a statistically significant higher level of psychological distress. They also are 1.45 times more likely to report that their distress symptoms interfere “a lot” with their daily life and activities compared to workers with paid sick leave.

Employers have seen a decrease in absenteeism, lower safety risks, as well as higher productivity rates at their workplaces as a result of providing fair wages, decent schedules and paid sick days to their employees.

[District 4 Councilman Greg] Casar noted the effort to require paid sick leave is no anomaly for Austin; more than 30 cities and seven state pave [sic] passed similar legislation.

“Parents should not have to make that impossible decision of choosing between a paycheck and keeping their sick children home,” said Ina Demers, a member of the Maine Education Association.

Paid sick time is about dignity. We all get sick sometimes. When we do, we shouldn’t have to risk losing our jobs or forgoing needed wages because we must stay home.