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While many of us spend time in August vacationing at the beach or in the mountains, Pennsylvania advocates took a trip to their state capitol in Harrisburg — to push for a state paid sick days law. Today, the Pennsylvania House Labor Relations Committee held a long-awaited hearing on H.B. 1830, the Healthy Families, Healthy Workplaces Act. The proposed paid sick time law would allow Pennsylvania’s workers to earn up to 6.5 days of paid sick time annually to take care of their own or a family member’s illness or to seek preventive health care. Survivors of domestic violence would be able to use sick time to obtain medical or legal help or to seek relocation services.

The Committee heard testimony from advocates and experts, including representatives of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and WOMEN’S WAY, and from Pennsylvania workers. The Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, which is backing H.B. 1830, held a press conference prior to the hearing with the bill’s legislative sponsor, Representative Marc Gergely (D-Allegheny).

If you live in Pennsylvania, take a moment to contact your state representatives to ask them to support the bill. After today’s high-profile hearing — and hearing from state activists — legislators will be hard-pressed to put off action on paid sick days.

It’s amazing what can be done during the dog days of August!